BARISAN NASIONAL

Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) is a major political coalition in Malaysia. Formed in 1973 as the successor of the Alliance (Parti Perikatan), it has ruled Malaysia uninterrupted (its term as the Alliance included) since independence. The National headquarters is located in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Barisan National has seats in every state in Malaysia, and is the majority party in 12 out of 13 States and the Federal Territory, the only exception being the state of Kelantan which is still under the control of the minority PAS government.

The vast majority of Barisan Nasional's seats are held by its three largest race-based parties — the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) — each of which is sectarian in nature, though officially supporting racial harmony. In the view of some scholars,
Since its inception the Alliance remained a coalition of communal parties. Each of the component parties operated to all intents and purposes, save that of elections, as a separate party. Their membership was communal and their success was measured in terms of their ability to achieve the essentially parochial demands of their constituents”
Although both the Alliance and Barisan Nasional registered themselves as political parties, membership was only possible indirectly through one of the constituent parties. In the Alliance, one could hold direct membership, but this was abolished with the formation of the Barisan Nasional. The Barisan Nasional defines itself as "a confederation of political parties which subscribe to the objects of the Barisan Nasional". Although in elections, all candidates stand under the Barisan Nasional symbol, and there is a Barisan Nasional manifesto, each individual constituent party also issues its own manifesto, and there is intra-coalition competition for seats prior to nomination day

As of December 2003, Barisan Nasional's member parties are:

United Malays National Organization (UMNO)
Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Movement)
People's Progressive Party (PPP)
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu
Sarawak United People's Party
Sabah Progressive Party(SAPP)
Parti Bersatu Sabah
Liberal Democratic Party
Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party