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Abdullah Badawi's high-water mark; BN's largest-ever share of seats.

21 March 2004219 seats110 for a majority

“Alliance/BN” held 198 of 219 seats — past the 110 needed to govern.

Alliance/BN198
PR/PH13
PAS-led7
Other1

No seat map before 2008. The chamber above is from a checked historical table.

The road here

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had become Prime Minister in October 2003 after Mahathir Mohamad stepped down. On 4 March 2004, Parliament was dissolved, and the campaign ran for eight days between nominations on 13 March and polling on 21 March.

BN presented a programme centred on development, public-service delivery, police integrity, safety and education. Its religious-policy language included Islam Hadhari, while Barisan Alternatif’s PAS–KeADILan manifesto addressed rights, religion and culture, development, employment, and proposals concerning detention without trial and restrictive laws.

The outcome declared on election day was:

BN — 198 seats

DAP — 12 seats

PAS — seven seats

KeADILan (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) — one seat

Independent — one seat

DAP and KeADILan contested as separate parties: DAP had withdrawn from the Barisan Alternatif alliance before this election, leaving PAS and KeADILan in it, and Moten and Mokhtar record that in several constituencies DAP and KeADILan candidates stood against each other. Relative to 1999, BN’s seat total rose from 148 to 198 in a larger chamber, while PAS’s representation fell from 27 to seven; DAP rose from 10 to 12 and KeADILan went from five to one.

One petition later changed that arithmetic. On 23 June 2004 the Kelantan High Court reversed the Pasir Puteh result because the Election Commission had named the wrong winner, giving the seat to BN. The post-petition composition of the House was therefore BN 199 and PAS six.

BN remained the federal government and Abdullah was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 March 2004.

What the sources say

Parliament was dissolved on 4 March 2004 on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s advice; nominations were held on 13 March, followed by an eight-day campaign before polling on 21 March. Abdullah had succeeded Mahathir Mohamad in October 2003 and was seeking his first electoral mandate as Prime Minister.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

BN’s campaign promised economic development, improvements to public services and police integrity, personal safety, education, and Islam Hadhari (“Progressive Islam”); its manifesto focused particularly on agriculture, biotechnology and Islamic financial services.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

The Barisan Alternatif alliance of PAS and KeADILan campaigned on rights, religion and culture, development, health, education, business, employment and the environment; it also proposed ending detention without trial and reviewing restrictive laws.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

On the results declared on election day, BN won 198 of 219 parliamentary seats; DAP won 12, PAS seven, PKR one, and an independent won one.

ElectionData.MY

Forty election petitions were filed challenging the declared results. One succeeded: on 23 June 2004 the Kelantan High Court reversed the declared result in the Pasir Puteh parliamentary constituency on the ground that the Election Commission had declared the wrong winner, and BN was declared the winner in its place. All other petitions in Kelantan, and nine in Terengganu, were rejected.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

The Election Court declared BN candidate Che Min Che Ahmad the winner of Pasir Puteh after nullifying the election-night declaration that PAS candidate Kalthom Othman had won.

The Star

After that petition, the composition of the Dewan Rakyat was BN 199, DAP 12, PAS six, PKR one and one independent. This is the distribution the Inter-Parliamentary Union records on the authority of the Dewan Rakyat itself, and it is why sources published later give BN 199 rather than 198.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarInter-Parliamentary Union

Compared with 1999, when BN won 148 of 193 seats, the 2004 election-day result increased BN’s seat total to 198 in an enlarged 219-seat chamber. PAS went from 27 seats to seven, DAP from 10 to 12, and KeADILan (by then Parti Keadilan Rakyat) from five to one.

Julian C. H. Lee

Abdullah was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 March 2004; the newly elected Dewan Rakyat first sat on 17 May.

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Why, and who says so

Explanations for a result are arguments, not facts.

Whether the electoral process affected the result

PAS and KeADILan alleged irregularities including electoral-roll problems, and called for investigations and fresh elections under an independent Election Commission. The Election Commission chairman accepted responsibility for the Selangor voting delay but said the problems were implementation failures rather than deliberate policy. On the government and Election Commission side, the record shows the following. The Commission extended voting by two hours in Selangor after names went missing from the rolls, and separately nullified the vote in one Pahang state seat and re-ran it on 28 March after party symbols were mixed up on the ballot papers. Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman was reported as saying he would not step down. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi did not defend the Commission: he criticised it over the problems and ordered an investigation. Beyond these administrative responses, no contemporaneous government or Election Commission rebuttal of the broader argument — that media access, funding and institutional arrangements themselves favoured BN — has been identified. That side of the argument does not appear to be on the accessible English-language record.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarAbdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarAFP via Al Jazeera

How far the result reflected voter choice rather than electoral conditions

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar interpreted the outcome as support for Abdullah’s moderate governance, anti-corruption agenda, economic conditions and BN’s campaign. Julian C. H. Lee argued that seat totals should not be read alone because electoral rules, institutions and media conditions disadvantaged opposition parties.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarJulian C. H. Lee

Abdullah’s personal standing and agenda, the “Badawi factor”

Three distinct claims are usually run together here, and they come from three different places. First, BN’s own claim: its secretary-general, quoted in The Star on 22 March 2004, said the win was “99.9% due to Abdullah Badawi”. Second, the academic reading: Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar argue that Abdullah had built public credit through high-profile corruption prosecutions, a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the police, and a non-confrontational campaign style. Third, survey evidence: a post-election Merdeka Center for Opinion Research poll of 1,017 respondents found 42% saying they voted BN because of its promise of material development, 32% describing Abdullah as a “man of the people”, 22% as having a “clean image”, and 19% in terms of his religious background.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

advanced by Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar. They cite 2003 GDP growth, the BN’s campaign resources, and divisions following DAP’s departure from Barisan Alternatif, as well as tensions among opposition parties.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

advanced by the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s contemporary election summary and by S. A. Jayasankaran as quoted by Julian C. H. Lee. The IPU summary reported that, “according to political analysts”, many voters, especially the Chinese and Indian minorities, feared Islamic fundamentalism; the IPU does not name those analysts or report the evidence for their view. Lee separately records S. A. Jayasankaran of the Far Eastern Economic Review writing that voters “rejected the Islamic conservatism of Pas”, which is one named journalist’s reading rather than a measured finding.

Inter-Parliamentary UnionJulian C. H. Lee

advanced by Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar, and separately by Julian C. H. Lee. Moten and Mokhtar argue that BN benefited from money, party machinery and media access; Lee argues that institutional arrangements and uneven enforcement constrained opposition participation.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarJulian C. H. Lee

Still open

  • Whether any contemporaneous government, BN or Election Commission answer exists to the argument that media access, campaign funding and institutional arrangements themselves favoured BN in 2004. The criticisms are on the record from named academics; a substantive reply from the other side was not found. A Malay-language source, a Bernama wire item or a parliamentary record may hold one.

Promises

Manifesto ofBarisan Nasional — Towards a Malaysia of Excellence, Glory and Distinction, launched March 2004. Government: March 2004 – the 2008 federal election.

Promises are quoted from Barisan Nasional's own manifesto, recovered from the archived party site.

  • Likely met — the record shows the promised action itself, dated within the tenure
  • Records found — related records exist; accounts may differ or fall short of the pledge
  • None found — no record located

P28 · Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Continue to promote a culture of zero-tolerance for corruption.”

Abdullah launched the National Integrity Plan (PIN) in Putrajaya on 23 April 2004. The Malaysian Institute of Integrity states that it was established in April 2004; these were institutional and policy actions during the tenure.

Perdana Leadership FoundationInstitut Integriti Malaysia

Malaysiakini, 23 April 2004, "PM launches national integrity plan" reported the launch of the National Integrity Plan and Malaysian Integrity Institute, including the plan’s aims to reduce corruption and abuse of power.

P30 · Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Strengthen civic consciousness through the teaching of civics and ethics in schools.”

The Ministry of Education replaced Tatarakyat with Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan in 2005 as a core subject at upper-primary and secondary levels, under Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas Bil. 6/2004. A later parliamentary reply identifies the curriculum as covering citizens’ responsibility to society and country. This is a curriculum implementation, not evidence of the programme’s effect on civic consciousness.

Ministry of EducationChang Lee Hoon

reported that civic education was reintroduced as a separate subject in 2005, and offered the outlet’s criticism that the curriculum did not adequately prepare pupils to understand rights and the roles of state institutions.

Economy

P1Vision 2020 growthRecords found

Economy — “Pursue economic growth strategies to achieve Vision 2020.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The official Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006–2010) set out strategies, programmes and allocations within the National Mission/Vision 2020 framework during this tenure; this is an implementation instrument for the broad growth commitment, not a measure of achieving Vision 2020.

Ministry of Economy

Independent reporting

The Star, 31 March 2006, "PM unveils RM220bil Ninth Malaysia Plan" reported that Abdullah unveiled the Ninth Malaysia Plan in Parliament.

After the tenure

Vision 2020 remained a long-term target after 2008.

P2National competitivenessRecords found

Economy — “Enhance competitiveness in order to build a resilient and performance-based economy.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Government tabled the Ninth Malaysia Plan on 31 March 2006 as its 2006–10 policy-and-programme blueprint. Its first thrust is titled “To move the economy up the value chain”; Abdullah’s 2006 speech also identified the Third Industrial Master Plan as directed at long-term competitiveness. These are policy instruments, not an independently verified measure that the promised resilient, performance-based economy was achieved.

Ministry of EconomyAbdullah Ahmad Badawi

Independent reporting

Al Jazeera, 31 March 2006, "Malaysia aims for smart economy" reported that the Ninth Plan shifted spending towards a "smarter economy" rather than cost competition; The Star, 31 March 2006, "PM unveils RM220bil Ninth Malaysia Plan" reported the plan’s tabling.

After the tenure

The Third Industrial Master Plan’s stated period extended beyond the March 2008 election.

P3Business-friendly environmentRecords found

Economy — “Nurture a business-friendly environment.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Federal Government established the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH) on 7 February 2007. Its official account says the body was created to facilitate business through public-private collaboration and regulatory/service-delivery reforms.

PEMUDAH

Independent reporting

reported that PEMUDAH was established in 2007 to support a more flexible, less bureaucratic business environment.

Bernama

After the tenure

PEMUDAH continued after 2008.

P4New sources of wealthRecords found

Economy — “Cultivate new sources of wealth and income in areas such as agriculture, bio-technology and Islamic financial services.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ninth Malaysia Plan was issued during the tenure; the Ministry describes it as the strategy, programme and allocation document for the National Mission. This pass did not identify a single dated instrument matching each of agriculture, biotechnology and Islamic finance.

Ministry of Economy

Independent reporting

The Star, 31 March 2006, "PM unveils RM220bil Ninth Malaysia Plan" reported the Ninth Plan’s unveiling.

P5Science and technology R&DRecords found

Economy — “Develop a culture of innovation through research and development (R&D) in science and technology.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Abdullah launched the National Biotechnology Policy on 28 April 2005. MIDA describes it as a policy to make biotechnology a new economic engine and records the establishment of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation to facilitate the sector; the policy included R&D and technology acquisition among its strategic thrusts.

Malaysian Investment Development AuthorityMinistry of Economy

After the tenure

The policy’s stated 2005–20 horizon continued after the tenure.

P6Rural growth centresRecords found

Economy — “Develop rural areas as new centres for economic growth.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ninth Malaysia Plan was the tenure's official National Mission implementation document; this pass did not trace a specific rural-growth-centre instrument.

Ministry of Economy

Independent reporting

The Star, 9 October 2005, "Bridging the urban-rural gap" reported that rural people and teachers were among areas expected to receive attention under the planned Ninth Malaysia Plan.

P7Company and SME competitivenessRecords found

Economy — “Increase the competitiveness of Malaysian companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The National SME Development Council held its first recorded meeting on 13 August 2004, chaired by the Prime Minister. Bank Negara describes its role as setting government policy direction and coordinating support programmes for SMEs; its 2005 annual report records the 2006 National SME Development Blueprint as a Council initiative.

Bank Negara MalaysiaBank Negara Malaysia

P8Markets for Malaysian products and servicesRecords found

Economy — “Expand markets for Malaysian products and services.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ninth Malaysia Plan made “Expanding the Market for Malaysian Products and Services” a listed programme area. Its June 2008 mid-term review reported increased export share and value in new markets, including Northeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Eastern Europe, and reported market entry for selected agricultural and ICT products/services. This is an official contemporaneous progress account, not an independent export evaluation.

Ministry of EconomyEconomic Planning Unit

After the tenure

The review’s remaining programme period was 2008–10.

P9Prudent fiscal managementRecords found

Economy — “Exercise prudent and responsible fiscal management.”

Economy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

In his 15 November 2006 policy address, Abdullah said the fiscal deficit had fallen from 5.3% of GDP in 2003 to 3.5% in 2006; this is the government's contemporary retrospective account, not an independent assessment.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Independent reporting

Malaysiakini, 30 September 2005, "Salient points of Budget 2006" reported the government’s projection that the fiscal deficit would be reduced to 3.5% in 2006, while noting it would be the ninth consecutive deficit.

Balanced Development

P10Poverty and income disparityRecords found

Balanced Development — “Fully eradicate poverty and reduce income disparity.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ninth Plan mid-term review reports that, using its stated poverty-line-income methodology, overall poverty incidence fell from 5.7% in 2004 to 3.6% in 2007 and hardcore poverty from 1.2% to 0.7%. It also reports changes in its disparity ratios, including Bumiputera:Chinese mean income from 1:1.64 to 1:1.54 and rural:urban from 1:2.11 to 1:1.91. The same document shows poverty remained in 2007; it therefore does not establish the promise to fully eradicate it.

Economic Planning Unit

Independent reporting

Malaysiakini, 26 June 2008, "RMK9: PM garis kejayaan setakat ini" reported Abdullah’s stated reduction in overall poverty from 5.7% in 2004 to 3.6% in 2007 and hardcore poverty from 1.2% to 0.7%; later reported that the rate rose from 3.6% in 2007 to 3.8% in 2009.

Malaysiakini

After the tenure

The plan’s target year was 2010.

P11Balanced regional developmentRecords found

Balanced Development — “Ensure balanced regional development in all states throughout Malaysia.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

A World Bank paper records that the Ninth Malaysia Plan introduced five development corridors across Malaysia; the official Ninth Malaysia Plan portal confirms the plan's National Mission framework. The cited source does not establish every state-level outcome.

World BankMinistry of Economy

Independent reporting

reported that the five economic corridors were launched by Abdullah between 2006 and 2008.

The Edge Malaysia

After the tenure

Corridor development continued after 2008.

P12Low-cost housing and healthcareRecords found

Balanced Development — “Improve access to and quality of low-cost housing and healthcare.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ninth Malaysia Plan allocated RM200 billion in development expenditure for 2006–10, with 5.4% for health and 5.0% for housing. This is a dated budget/planning instrument directed at the two fields; the retrieved material does not establish the resulting access or quality of low-cost housing and healthcare during the tenure.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Independent reporting

Aliran, 18 November 2006, "Mission and omission" reproduced the Ninth Plan’s ministry-level development-allocation distribution and criticised the concentration of funds in the Prime Minister’s Department.

After the tenure

The allocations covered 2006–10, beyond the tenure.

P13Marginalised groupsRecords found

Balanced Development — “Improve the effectiveness of social programs to help marginalised groups such as orang asli, the disabled and elderly.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Parliament enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685), which establishes a National Council for Persons with Disabilities and sets out provisions concerning registration, protection, rehabilitation, development and wellbeing. The Act itself provides for commencement by ministerial Gazette notification. This is a federal instrument concerning one named group; this pass did not locate a comparable tenure instrument for Orang Asli or older persons.

Ministry of Health

P14Women's economic participationNone found

Balanced Development — “Improve working conditions to increase women's participation in the economy.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searched a specified labour instrument in this pass.

P15Heritage and environmentRecords found

Balanced Development — “Enhance measures to protect our heritage and environment.”

Balanced Development

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Department of National Heritage lists the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645), including the Act’s English and Malay texts. Its official FAQ describes the Act as providing for conservation and preservation of underwater cultural heritage, archaeological reserves/sites and relics. This traces a legislative heritage measure, not a separate environmental measure.

Department of National HeritageDepartment of National Heritage

Education

P16Quality teaching and learningRecords found

Education — “Ensure quality teaching and learning at all levels of education.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

On 27 March 2004 the government announced the creation of a dedicated Higher Education Ministry. This is a dated institutional action relevant to higher education, but does not establish quality at every education level.

Ministry of Higher Education

P17Communication, English, ICT and thinking skillsNone found

Education — “Enhance teaching of communication skills including English, ICT skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searches recorded in the search log did not locate a promise-specific action.

P18National and national-type schoolsRecords found

Education — “Make National Schools the school of choice through quality improvements, including better teaching of mother tongue languages, as well as safeguard the position of national-type schools today.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry of Education says it launched the Education Development Master Plan (PIPP) 2006–10 in January 2007 to detail the Ninth Plan education agenda. Its six thrusts included “empowering national schools” and reducing education gaps. The located source does not demonstrate the manifesto’s separate undertaking to safeguard national-type schools or show that national schools became the school of choice.

Ministry of Education

Independent reporting

Malaysiakini, 26 June 2008, "RMK9: PM garis kejayaan setakat ini" reported Abdullah’s account that education quality and access had been improved through PIPP and the higher-education strategic plan.

After the tenure

PIPP’s stated period continued to 2010.

P19Student interaction and unityRecords found

Education — “Foster student interaction to enhance national unity.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry of Education’s 2013 annual report says RIMUP (Rancangan Integrasi Murid untuk Perpaduan) was institutionalised in PIPP 2006–10 under the “Building the Nation State” thrust. It describes RIMUP as activities to increase interaction among pupils of different ethnicities, religions and school types. This is later official retrospective evidence of a programme instrument; it does not measure its effect on national unity.

Ministry of Education

Independent reporting

The Star, 10 October 2006, "Promoting unity at school" reported a multi-school cultural concert held under RIMUP and described the programme as an Education Ministry effort to encourage unity through school-level cultural integration.

P20Teaching professionalsNone found

Education — “Improve the working environment for teaching professionals.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searches recorded in the search log did not locate a promise-specific action.

P21High-calibre graduatesRecords found

Education — “Enhance higher education institutions to produce highcalibre graduates.”

Education

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The government announced the new Higher Education Ministry on 27 March 2004. The ministry's own later history describes it as the first dedicated ministry for higher education.

Ministry of Higher Education

Religion

P22Islam HadhariRecords found

Religion — “Continue to build a progressive and modern Islam Hadhari.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

In a 28 August 2006 speech, Abdullah said his government had introduced Islam Hadhari as an approach to development and set out its ten principles. This establishes the approach's adoption, not a complete measure of the promise.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Independent reporting

reported that Abdullah formally introduced Islam Hadhari as a policy in 2004.

Astro Awani

After the tenure

The approach remained associated with the Abdullah administration after 2008.

P23Syariah and justice for Muslim women◆ Records found

Religion — “Improve the application of Syariah law in the country, and ensure Muslim women have recourse to a fair and just legal system.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry's 2022 CEDAW report says the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 was amended in 2006 to give a polygamous husband's wife rights to claim matrimonial property and alimony. By contrast, the US State Department's 2007 report says Parliament passed an Islamic Family Law Act in December 2005 that would have weakened a Muslim wife's private-property rights and enhanced men's ability to divorce, take multiple wives and claim an existing wife's property; following protests, it says the Attorney-General's Chambers was reviewing it and it had not been gazetted by 30 June 2007.

Ministry of WomenUS Department of State

Independent reporting

reported that the Cabinet put gazetting of the 2005 amendment on hold after groups said provisions were unfair to women and enhanced men’s rights in polygamy and divorce cases. This differs from the government’s later CEDAW account in the action field, which describes a 2006 amendment as giving certain rights to wives in polygamous marriages.

The Star

P24Islamic educationRecords found

Religion — “Upgrade Islamic education through syllabus improvements, compulsory Arabic Language courses for Muslim students and completion of Quran recital during primary school.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

KPM describes j-QAF (Jawi, al-Quran, Arabic and Fardu Ain) as a ministry initiative implemented in primary schools in phases from 2005 to 2010. Its stated aims include Qur’an completion before the end of Year 6 and basic Arabic proficiency. That directly corresponds to two specified parts of the promise; the retrieved source does not establish a general syllabus revision beyond the programme.

Ministry of Education

After the tenure

The phased programme continued to 2010.

P25Islamic financial servicesRecords found

Religion — “Promote internationally competitive Islamic financial services.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Bank Negara says the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) initiative was launched on 14 August 2006 to position Malaysia as a centre for international Islamic financial products and services. On 14 September 2006 its secretariat issued guidelines for new Islamic banking and takaful entities to conduct international-currency business, as part of measures to promote Malaysia as a centre for Islamic capital-market, fund-management, banking and takaful services.

Bank Negara MalaysiaBank Negara Malaysia

P26Welfare of religious officersRecords found

Religion — “Enhance the welfare of imams and other religious officers.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The 2006 Budget raised the monthly allowance for KAFA supervisors from RM500 to RM750 and fixed the allowance for KAFA teachers at RM500, with implementation from 1 January 2006 for the budget’s stated cost-of-living assistance measures. This is a dated welfare measure for religious-education personnel, but the retrieved budget does not show an allowance or welfare instrument for imams.

Dewan Rakyat

P27Haj servicesNone found

Religion — “Ensure Haj pilgrimage services are conducted efficiently and at reasonable cost.”

Religion

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searched Tabung Haji records in this pass.

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

P28Zero tolerance for corruptionRecords found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Continue to promote a culture of zero-tolerance for corruption.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Abdullah launched the National Integrity Plan (PIN) in Putrajaya on 23 April 2004. The Malaysian Institute of Integrity states that it was established in April 2004; these were institutional and policy actions during the tenure.

Perdana Leadership FoundationInstitut Integriti Malaysia

Independent reporting

Malaysiakini, 23 April 2004, "PM launches national integrity plan" reported the launch of the National Integrity Plan and Malaysian Integrity Institute, including the plan’s aims to reduce corruption and abuse of power.

After the tenure

The later National Anti-Corruption Plan describes PIN as an initiative launched in April 2004.

P29Code of ethics and integrityRecords found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Introduce a code of ethics and integrity for the public and private sector, political parties and civil society.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

PIN, launched 23 April 2004, covered government, private sector, political parties, religious institutions, trade unions, NGOs, women, media, youth and students in its integrity programme. This pass did not find a single code applying to all the listed sectors.

Abdullah Ahmad BadawiPerdana Leadership Foundation

Independent reporting

reported the plan’s launch and its stated aim of promoting an accountable, corruption-free society.

The Star

P30Civics and ethics in schoolsLikely met

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Strengthen civic consciousness through the teaching of civics and ethics in schools.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry of Education replaced Tatarakyat with Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan in 2005 as a core subject at upper-primary and secondary levels, under Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas Bil. 6/2004. A later parliamentary reply identifies the curriculum as covering citizens’ responsibility to society and country. This is a curriculum implementation, not evidence of the programme’s effect on civic consciousness.

Ministry of EducationChang Lee Hoon

Independent reporting

reported that civic education was reintroduced as a separate subject in 2005, and offered the outlet’s criticism that the curriculum did not adequately prepare pupils to understand rights and the roles of state institutions.

Malaysiakini

After the tenure

The discrete subject was later phased out from 2014 and civic elements were reintroduced across specified subjects from 2019.

P31Youth values and serviceRecords found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Foster high moral values, self-confidence and the courage to face challenges among youth through the National Service, Rakan Muda and other community service programs.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry of Youth and Sports places Rakan Muda’s first phase, focused on youth character development through nine lifestyles, in 1994–2006. The retrieved four-module description of PLKN is from a 2010 publication and does not establish the programme’s modules in 2004.

Ministry of Youth and Sports

P32Driver attitudes and road deathsRecords found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Improve driver attitude to reduce road accidents and fatalities.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

A Dewan Negara reply on 24 May 2006 stated that the government had launched the five-year Pelan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Malaysia 2006–2010. It provided for road-safety education in 7,600 primary schools from January 2007, establishment of MIROS and road-safety departments in every state. MIROS was established in 2007. The plan targeted a reduction in deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles from 4.2 in 2005 to 2.0 in 2010; that target fell after the GE11 period, so this is not a finding that the target was achieved.

Dewan NegaraMinistry of Transport

Independent reporting

reported that the 2006–10 plan targeted a 50% reduction in road deaths by 2010.

mStar

After the tenure

The 2022–30 Road Safety Plan reports that the 2006–10 plan reduced the deaths-per-10,000-registered-vehicles indicator from 4.0 in 2006 to 3.4 in 2010, still short of the 2.0 target; it also reports that the other 2010 target indicators were missed.

P33Care for amenities and natural resourcesNone found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Foster a strong culture of appreciation and maintenance of amenities and natural resources.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searches recorded in the search log did not locate a promise-specific action.

P34Participative society and NGOsRecords found

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values — “Nurture a more open and participative society, working together with NGOs.”

Development of Civic, Moral and Ethical Values

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Abdullah’s 28 August 2006 account of the National Integrity Plan (PIN), formulated in 2004, expressly says it covered NGOs together with government, private sector, political parties, religious institutions, trade unions, women, media, youth and students. This evidences a government-wide integrity plan that included NGOs; it does not establish a legal entitlement to participation or an outcome for openness.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Law and Order

P35Constitution, laws, peace and stabilityRecords found

Law and Order — “Uphold the Constitution and laws to maintain national peace and stability.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

This is a continuing general commitment; no discrete implementing instrument was traced in this pass.

P36Judiciary and administration of justiceRecords found

Law and Order — “Ensure the independence of the judiciary and provide modern infrastructure to facilitate the administration of justice.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

No appointment reform or court-infrastructure instrument was located within the project’s GE11 cut-off of 8 March 2008. On 17 April 2008 Abdullah announced a proposal for a Judicial Appointments Commission to identify and recommend judicial candidates, while retaining the Prime Minister’s constitutional role in putting names to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Star

Independent reporting

Malaysiakini, 20 April 2008, "Orang awam sertai s'jaya hakim" reported Zaid Ibrahim’s statement that members of the public and professionals would be appointed to the proposed Judicial Appointments Commission.

After the tenure

Parliament passed the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill in December 2008; the implementing regulations cited by the Commission are P.U.(A) 209/2009, dated 1 June 2009.

P37BordersRecords found

Law and Order — “Defend our nation's borders from any threat or breach.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Act 2004 (Act 633) received Royal Assent on 25 June 2004 and was published in the Gazette on 1 July 2004. APMM’s official chronology says the Act entered into force on 15 February 2005, the agency began operations in the Malaysian Maritime Zone on 30 October 2005, and it was officially launched on 21 March 2006. This is a maritime-border enforcement instrument, not a record of every land and maritime border threat.

Malaysia Maritime Enforcement AgencyMalaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency

P38Personal safetyNone found

Law and Order — “Improve the level of personal safety for every individual.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searched a crime-outcome series or instrument in this pass.

P39Independent Special Commission on PoliceNone found

Law and Order — “Enhance the efficiency and integrity of the Police Force through an independent Special Commission on Police.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. The cited Royal Commission copy and former Foreign Ministry archive article were not retrievable in this repair, so the specific IPCMC recommendation wording and the asserted 14 March 2006 decision status are not retained.

After the tenure

In a 2 November 2016 book-launch speech reproduced by EAIC, Sultan Nazrin Shah said Abdullah had sought to set up a Royal Commission on Police and that resistance led to it being “watered down” to the EAIC.

P40Police gender sensitivityNone found

Law and Order — “Improve the gender sensitivity of the police force.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searches recorded in the search log did not locate a promise-specific action.

P41Security-force welfareRecords found

Law and Order — “Ensure the welfare of the country's security forces.”

Law and Order

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Service Circular No. 7/2007, Pemberian Kenaikan Gaji Kepada Pegawai Perkhidmatan Awam Persekutuan Di Bawah Sistem Saraan Malaysia, was issued for federal public-service officers. Contemporary reporting said the 1 July 2007 pay rise applied to civil servants, police and armed forces and ranged from 7.5% to 42%. It is a remuneration measure relevant to welfare, but does not settle other welfare elements.

Public Service DepartmentNew Straits Times reporting

Independent reporting

New Straits Times, 22 May 2007, "Record pay rise: Between 7.5% and 42%" reported that the pay rise would apply to civil servants, police and the armed forces.

Public Services

P42Frontline public agenciesRecords found

Public Services — “Improve efficiency and access to all frontline agencies.”

Public Services

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Public Complaints Bureau developed the Integrated Public Agency Complaints Monitoring System (iSPAAA) at the end of 2007. The later ministry description says some government agencies began using it in 2009; accordingly, the record establishes system development before the GE11 cut-off but not an across-all-frontline-agencies improvement in access or efficiency.

Ministry of Higher Education

After the tenure

Initial use by several agencies began in 2009, and the system was later improved and rebranded as SPAB/SISPAA.

P43Land, district and local officesRecords found

Public Services — “Re-engineer land and district offices as well as local authorities.”

Public Services

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Ministry of Finance’s 2004/05 Economic Report says the e-Tanah project was an integrated ICT approach to modernise land-office administration and 24 core land-application processes, with a Penang pilot by the end of 2004 and broader rollout planned for 2006. The Penang land authority records that, after the election, the Finance Ministry directed an open-tender pilot on 9 April 2004 and the e-Tanah Steering Committee set the 24-process scope on 2–3 June 2004. This is specific re-engineering of land administration; it does not establish comparable re-engineering of district offices or all local authorities.

Ministry of FinancePenang Land and Mines Office

P44Public complaintsRecords found

Public Services — “Improve responsiveness to the public's complaints and concerns.”

Public Services

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The Public Complaints Bureau developed iSPAAA at the end of 2007 as a system for monitoring agency complaints. The located record does not give a within-tenure resolution-rate or response-time result; its reported use by several agencies started in 2009.

Ministry of Higher Education

After the tenure

iSPAAA was later improved with the Ministry of Finance and MAMPU and rebranded as SPAB/SISPAA.

P45e-GovernmentRecords found

Public Services — “Implement e-Government to improve access and efficiency.”

Public Services

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The government treated e-Tanah as an electronic-government project: its project team was established on 1 March 2004, and the first post-election implementation decisions were made in April–August 2004. The official project description says the system supports online payment, receipt printing and payment-status checking, and was intended to improve service delivery and reduce bureaucracy. This traces one e-government implementation, not the breadth of e-government access across all services.

Department of Director General of Lands and MinesMinistry of Finance

P46Civil-service welfare and performanceRecords found

Public Services — “Enhance the welfare and performance of civil servants by improving work environment, career prospects and human resource development.”

Public Services

Barisan Nasional

What we found

JPA’s official salary archive records Service Circular No. 7/2007, a grant of salary increases to federal public-service officers under the Malaysian Remuneration System. The JPA’s 2006 annual report describes the public service’s response to the Ninth Malaysia Plan as including policies and procedures on human-capital development. The salary circular is a concrete welfare measure; neither source establishes the promise’s wider work-environment, career-prospect and performance outcomes.

Public Service DepartmentPublic Service Department

Independent reporting

New Straits Times, 22 May 2007, "Record pay rise: Between 7.5% and 42%" reported the public-service pay rise that took effect in July 2007.

Foreign Policy

P47Peaceful relationsNone found

Foreign Policy — “Maintain peaceful relations with all countries regardless of economic level, ideology and political system.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searched a discrete instrument in this pass.

P48Independent and non-aligned diplomacyNone found

Foreign Policy — “Adopt an independent, non-aligned, and principled stance in regional and international diplomatic affairs.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

None found. Searched a discrete instrument in this pass.

P49Partnerships with ASEAN and other nationsRecords found

Foreign Policy — “Forge close relationships and economic partnerships with all nations, particularly with our ASEAN and other regional friends.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

Malaysia signed the Malaysia–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement on 13 December 2005; MITI identifies it as Malaysia’s first comprehensive agreement and records that it entered into force on 13 July 2006. Abdullah also signed the ASEAN Charter for Malaysia in Singapore on 20 November 2007. These are dated economic and regional-partnership instruments, not evidence of partnerships with every nation.

Ministry of InvestmentASEAN

P50Regional peace and stabilityRecords found

Foreign Policy — “Promote peace and stability in the region through capacity building and conflict resolution measures.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The 2004 ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action set out regional conflict-prevention, conflict-resolution and post-conflict peace-building measures, including capacity-building, peacekeeping-centre networking and the use of negotiation, consultation, good offices, conciliation and mediation. It is a collective ASEAN framework in which Malaysia participated, rather than a measure of its individual effect on regional peace and stability.

ASEAN

P51NAM and OIC leadershipRecords found

Foreign Policy — “Play an influential leadership role as Chair of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

In a 5 July 2004 speech, Abdullah identified Malaysia as current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Islamic Summit Conference. This records office-holding but does not independently measure whether the leadership was “influential”.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

P52United Nations participationRecords found

Foreign Policy — “Participate actively and meaningfully in the United Nations, especially in efforts to end injustice and oppression, and to uphold international law.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

On 12 April 2006 Malaysia submitted its candidature and voluntary pledges for the new UN Human Rights Council. The General Assembly elected Malaysia on 9 May 2006 among the first 47 Council members. This is a dated UN participation record, but does not itself assess activity or establish results on every claimed issue of injustice, oppression or international law.

Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United NationsUnited Nations

P53Progressive Islamic example internationallyRecords found

Foreign Policy — “Project Malaysia as a leading example of a tolerant and progressive Islamic nation.”

Foreign Policy

Barisan Nasional

What we found

The PMO's 28 August 2006 archive records the government presenting Islam Hadhari as its development approach, including the principles of a just government, balanced development, minority and women's rights, environmental protection and defence. This is evidence of the approach's official articulation, not evidence that Malaysia achieved the projected international standing.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Independent reporting

reported that the approach was intended to present Islam as progressive and tolerant, and characterised it as an effective administrative policy.

Astro Awani

Every promise, every election →
← GE10 (1999)GE12 (2008) →

Common questions

Who won GE11 in 2004?

BN won the election, taking 198 of the 219 parliamentary seats declared on polling day. DAP won 12 seats, PAS seven, PKR one and an independent one. BN remained the federal government, and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn in as Prime Minister the following day.

ElectionData.MYInter-Parliamentary Union

Why do some sources say BN won 198 seats and others say 199?

Both figures refer to different points in the 2004 result. BN had 198 seats in the result declared on election day, but a petition later changed the Pasir Puteh outcome. On 23 June, the Kelantan High Court reversed the declaration there because the Election Commission had named the wrong winner, and the later Dewan Rakyat composition recorded BN on 199 seats and PAS on six.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarInter-Parliamentary Union

What were BN and Barisan Alternatif campaigning on in 2004?

BN campaigned on economic development, public services, police integrity, safety and education, alongside Islam Hadhari and priorities including agriculture, biotechnology and Islamic financial services. Barisan Alternatif, then comprising PAS and KeADILan, campaigned on rights, religion and culture, development, health, education, business, employment and the environment; it also proposed ending detention without trial and reviewing restrictive laws.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar Mokhtar

Were the GE11 results challenged?

Yes. Forty election petitions challenged the declared results. One changed the result: the Pasir Puteh parliamentary seat was awarded to BN after the Kelantan High Court found that the Election Commission had declared the wrong winner on election night. The other petitions in Kelantan, and nine in Terengganu, were rejected.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarThe Star

Why did BN do so strongly in GE11?

There is no single explanation in the record. Moten and Mokhtar link the outcome to support for Abdullah’s moderate governance, anti-corruption agenda, economic conditions and BN’s campaign, while their cited post-election survey found respondents commonly pointing to BN’s promise of material development and to Abdullah’s image. Lee argues that seat totals must also be read alongside electoral rules, institutions and media conditions that constrained opposition participation.

Abdul Rashid Moten and Tunku Mohar MokhtarJulian C. H. Lee