How one coalition held Malaysian power for over six decades

Society · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1974 to succeed the Alliance Party, Barisan Nasional once dominated Malaysian politics with a massive supermajority. For 34 years, it maintained an uninterrupted grip on power, becoming one of the longest-running ruling coalitions in liberal democracies before a historic shift changed the nation's political landscape forever.

Barisan Nasional (BN) emerged from the social tensions following the 1969 general election and the subsequent May 13 riots. Formed as a grand coalition of ethnic-based parties, it was officially registered in June 1974 under Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. At its peak, the coalition expanded to include as many as 14 communal parties, utilizing Malaysia's first-past-the-post voting system to secure a consecutive two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat for decades. The coalition was led by Tun Abdul Razak during its initial successful contest. It primarily consisted of major ethnic groups like UMNO, MCA, and MIC.

The coalition's dominance faced significant erosion starting in 2008, when it lost over one-third of its parliamentary seats to the Pakatan Rakyat alliance. The decline accelerated during the 2018 general election, where BN suffered a historic defeat, losing control of the Parliament to Pakatan Harapan. This ended a 61-year period of rule shared with its predecessor, the Alliance Party, and led to several component parties, including those from Sabah and Sarawak, leaving the coalition. This political shift saw regional parties from Sabah and Sarawak depart from the group. The 1MDB scandal also significantly damaged the coalition's public reputation.

Today, Barisan Nasional has transitioned from a dominant force to a significant opposition player, currently holding 30 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. While it suffered its worst historical result in the 2022 general election—winning only 30 seats—it remains a key political actor. It currently supports the Pakatan Harapan-led national unity government, known as the Madani, following a period of political instability between 2020 and 2022. In the 2022 elections, the group fell to third place behind Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional. It maintains its relevance by participating in the Madani unity government.

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