Malaysia is today undeniably a political society. Questions have been asked, it is true, about how democratic it is. In fact, one commentator has referred to the development in Malaysia of “a repressive-responsive regime that can be called neither democratic nor authoritarian but contains elements of both”. But although the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act and Official Secrets Act all place limits on political debate, and the government controls key elements in the media and has amended the electoral system in ways that assist the ruling coalition to retain power, the fact remains that Malaysia is extraordinary for the liveliness of its politics. Despite such authoritarian measures, Opposition groups are always audible, expressing their views in print and on the Internet. The juggling for influence between the main ethnic groupings – the Peninsular Malay majority of 57.5 percent, the Chinese 27 percent and the Indian 9 percent – and the clashes of interest and ideology inside ethnic groups are played out in a distinctly political process. Electoral struggles, competition for preselection of parliamentary seats, and the quest for high position in political parties are all the focus of intense public interest and speculation. Business, too, is often carried on within the political arena, as entrepreneurs offer political support for political patronage, and even those on the lowest rungs of the Malay economy can obtain land and product distribution rights as a reward for political loyalty. This is not mere underhand maneuvering, immoral ‘money polities’. Few in Malaysia assume that business should be free of politics. Material benefit, however, seems not to be enough to explain the passion for politics.