BOOK REVIEW: Building Bridges, Crossing Boundaries – Everyday forms of inter-ethnic peace building in Malaysia

Malaysia is relatively free from political violence. The only two major episodes of political violence in living memory of most Malaysians are the communist insurgency in West Malaysia (1948–1960) and Sarawak (1962–1974) and the May 13 post-election Sino-Malay ethnic riot in 1969. Notwithstanding class war and communal conflict, the Malayan/Malaysian state successfully preserve civilian rule for most of the time after its independence from Britain in 1957/1963.