Despite the central role of rhetoric in shaping political communication, scholarly attention to the systematic

associated with specific phrasal structures. The findings further indicate that the occurrence of certain

rhetorical strategies correlates with speech topics. This study underscores the unique characteristics of

rhetorical expression in Malay political discourse and offers significant pedagogical implications for Malay

language instruction, particularly in the areas of rhetorical competence and curriculum development.

Mohamad

The role of rhetoric in political discourse cannot be overstated, particularly in contexts where language, power,

and identity intersect to shape the socio-political landscape. In Malaysia, the long political career of Tun Dr.

Mahathir Mohamad provides a compelling case study of rhetorical strategies that have profoundly influenced

Rhetoric is a fundamental tool in political discourse, enabling leaders to persuade, influence, and shape public

opinion. The relationship between language and power is central to understanding how political leaders use

rhetoric to create social realities, construct identities, and justify political actions. Scholars such as Van Dijk

(2008) and Fairclough (2001) emphasize that political discourse is not merely a channel of communication but

a mechanism through which power relations are enacted and reinforced. This is particularly evident in post-

colonial societies, where political rhetoric is often employed to assert sovereignty, negotiate power dynamics,

and construct national narratives.

political discourse shapes national identity, governance, and societal values in Malaysia.

Saeed et al. (2020) provide a comprehensive analysis of Imran Khan’s rhetorical strategies, offering valuable

reliance on a single speech and its relatively narrow theoretical framework leave considerable scope for further

investigation.

In the Malaysian context, research on rhetorical strategies has revealed diverse approaches across different

More recent studies indicate that Malaysian politicians have adopted Aristotelian rhetorical appeals in social

media communication, with individual politicians demonstrating distinct preferences. For instance, an analysis

of social media posts during the Taman Sri Muda flood crisis found that Syed Saddiq predominantly employed

pathos (emotional appeals), while Hannah Yeoh relied more heavily on ethos (credibility-based appeals).

Nonetheless, both politicians drew upon all three classical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—to establish

credibility, evoke empathy, and present evidence in support of their arguments (Manan & Shukri, 2023).

national issues, and rally support for his policies. Researchers have examined various aspects of his rhetorical

style, such as his use of metaphor, framing, and appeals to nationalistic sentiment. Kamarudin (2015)

frequently directed at the West or global powers. This approach galvanized nationalistic sentiments among the

as a defender of national interests.

Another key element of Mahathir’s rhetoric was his appeal to the Malay majority in Malaysia. Lee and Tan

(2008) argue that his rhetoric was instrumental in consolidating the political power of the Malay community,

particularly through policies such as the Bumiputera initiative. By emphasizing the centrality of Malay

political and economic future. This framing of Malay identity demonstrates how political discourse can

As Taufiq (2013) suggests, studying Mahathir’s rhetoric provides a unique opportunity to explore how

discourse strategies function in a post-colonial, multi-ethnic society. In Malaysia, where ethnic relations are

because it enables the interpretation of diverse types of information through a three-step procedure:

clause elements across a uniform alignment. This approach extends beyond mere grammatical description

by considering situational details within the broader continuity of discourse.

segmented into 1,032 clauses, each numbered and examined for rhetorical strategies and their corresponding

sub-techniques. Simultaneously, the “Quantitative Method” was applied to calculate the frequency of specific

rhetorical strategies, thereby providing a systematic overview of their patterns of use

The findings presented above revealed that the Information Statement Strategy (29.5%) was the most

underscoring his central role as UMNO president in disseminating political narratives and affirming

ideological positions. The dominance of this strategy reflects a discourse style that privileges instruction and

second most frequently used strategy, the Explanatory Strategy (17.4%), further reinforces this pedagogical

tone by clarifying and legitimizing policy positions or ideological stances through analogies, generalizations,

and cause–effect reasoning. Together, these strategies construct a didactic discourse that seeks not only to

inform but also to discipline and align party members with the party’s dominant ideological trajectory.

More revealing, however, is the significant use of the Support-Baiting Strategy (15.7%), which serves a dual

antagonistic positioning aligns with broader efforts to secure ideological hegemony within the party and

among the Malay electorate.

threat—functions to create a sense of crisis or vulnerability, which the didactic strategy then addresses through

moral instruction, prohibitions, or calls to unity. This rhetorical interplay reflects a form of “authoritarian

populism” (Hall, 1985), in which fear is mobilized to justify top-down guidance and reinforce loyalty to

leadership. Such rhetoric not only legitimizes centralized authority but also silences alternative viewpoints by

presenting dissent as dangerous or unpatriotic.

From a critical discourse analysis (CDA) perspective, these strategies do more than merely persuade; they

within a broader discursive formation that prioritizes Malay dominance and national development narratives,

often at the expense of pluralistic or dissenting voices (Shamsul, 1996). His rhetorical framework reflects what

van Dijk (1998) terms the “ideological square,” in which the in-group (in this case, UMNO and the Malay

While this study provides a foundational account of the rhetorical strategies employed in Mahathir Mohamad’s

speeches, future research should move beyond descriptive frequency analysis toward a more critical

Adopting a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach would substantially deepen the analytical scope by

examining how rhetorical strategies reproduce power relations, articulate ethnic identity politics, and sustain

Ideologies, 19(3), 241–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569317.2014.951140

13. Manan, S. A., & Shukri, S. M. (2023). Crisis communication and rhetorical strategies of Malaysian

politicians on social media: A study of the Taman Sri Muda flood. Malaysian Journal of Media Studies,

15. Saeed, U., Aslam, M. Z., Khan, A., Khan, M., Atiq, M., & Bhatti, H. (2020). Rhetorical and persuasive

strategies employed by Imran Khan in his victory speech: A socio-political discourse analysis.

International Journal of English Linguistics, 10(2), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v10n2p349

16. Shamsul, A. B. (1996). Nations-of-intent in Malaysia. In A. Chatterjee & P. van der Veer (Eds.), Asian

forms of the nation (pp. 323–347). Routledge.

17. Taufiq, N. (2013). Ethos and political rhetoric in Mahathir's speeches. Political Discourse Review, 9(4),