Semangat 46

Semangat 46 (Spirit of '46) is a now defunct Malaysian political party. The party was formed in 1988 under the leadership of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who felt capable of mounting a realistic challenge to the dominance of then UMNO under Mahathir's leadership and its electoral vehicle, the Barisan Nasional. The party formed a coalition with PAS and DAP in the 1990 Malaysian general election. [cite book|title=Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties|author=AdrianKaratnycky|publisher=Transaction Publishers|year=1999|pages=300|isbn=0765806754]

Semangat 46 came about in 1985 or 1986 when Malaysia was experiencing an economic recession. [cite book|title=Political Oppositions in Industrialising Asia|author=Garry Rodan, AsiaResearch Centre|publisher=Routledge|year=1996|pages=138|isbn=0415148650] . This new party brought over many Umno top guns from Team B like Datuk Rais Yatim, Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin, Datuk Manan Othman, Datuk Suhaimi Kamaruddin, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Datin Paduka Rahmah Othman and Marina Yusof. However, other key members of Team B notably Tun Musa Hitam, Datuk Shahrir Samad and current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decided to remain in Umno.

In essence, Semangat Events turned the other side, as many of Semangat 46 members began to defect to UMNO. The party was renamed Parti Melayu Semangat 46, in an attempt to revive support by stressing on its Malay nature. [cite book|title=Political Oppositions in Industrialising Asia|author=Garry Rodan, AsiaResearch Centre|publisher=Routledge|year=1996|pages=138|isbn=0415148650] In May 1996, Semangat 46 merged with UMNO.

ee also

* 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis

References