Editing Barisan Nasional (section)

== Organisation ==
[[File:BN MANIFESTO (8630470271).jpg|thumb|]]
In 2013, the vast majority of Barisan Nasional's seats were held by its two largest [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|Bumiputera]]-based political parties—the [[United Malays National Organisation]], and [[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu]]. For most of its history, both the [[Malaysian Chinese Association]] and [[Malaysian Indian Congress]] have played major roles in Barisan Nasional, but their representation in Parliament and state legislatures has become much more diminished. Nevertheless, each component party purports to represent – and limit membership – to a certain race: UMNO for the Malays, MCA for the Chinese and so on.  In the view of some scholars:

{{Blockquote|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, except perhaps Gerakan, and their success was measured in terms of their ability to achieve the essentially parochial demands of their constituents.<ref>Rachagan, S. Sothi (1993). ''Law and the Electoral Process in Malaysia'', p. 12. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press. {{ISBN|967-9940-45-4}}.</ref>}}

Although both the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance]] and BN registered themselves as political parties, membership is mostly indirect through one of the constituent parties while direct membership is allowed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2010/11/21/barisan-amends-constitution-to-allow-direct-membership/|title=Barisan amends constitution to allow direct membership - Nation {{!}} The Star Online|last=Ahmad|first=Zuhrin Azam|website=www.thestar.com.my|date=21 November 2010 |access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The BN 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 BN symbol, and there is a BN manifesto, each individual constituent party also issues its own manifesto, and there is intra-coalition competition for seats prior to nomination day.<ref>Rachagan, p. 21.</ref>