This chapter analyzes Malaysia’s transition to democracy, emphasizing how elite politicians—especially those from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)—emerged as dominant actors during decolonization. While British Malaya featured competing forces such as royal families, communists, and pan-Indonesian nationalists, British authorities favored elite-led governance. They suppressed radical groups and delayed elections until pro-British elites could secure power. The Alliance Party’s electoral victory in 1955 enabled it to lead constitutional negotiations, producing the 1957 Merdeka Constitution—a compromise that combined Malay privileges with equal citizenship for non-Malays. This “Merdeka Compact” reflected both conservative Malay and civic nationalist ideals. However, rising inter-ethnic tensions, especially after Malaysia’s formation and Singapore’s expulsion, led to riots in 1969 and the shift toward authoritarian rule. The chapter concludes that while elections facilitated democracy, British manipulation and elite coalition-building created a political system whose ethnic cleavages continue to shape Malaysia’s trajectory.