RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES IN USE: ANALYSING SELECTED MALAYSIAN POLITICAL SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS THROUGH THE LENS OF MADANI CORE VALUES

Abstract

Political speeches and statements are valuable discourses for analyzing a nation's stance on local and international affairs. They carry significant research value in the fields of political science and the humanities. This study examines selected political speeches and statements issued by the Malaysian government in alignment with the Madani values. Speeches and statements related to two major issues—the COVID-19 pandemic and bilateral ties—are analyzed through the lens of Aristotle’s rhetorical techniques to explore how ethos, pathos, and logos help the Malaysian government express its stance on these topics. Additionally, Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was employed to examine Malaysia's position on these issues and the power dynamics embedded within the texts, alongside the six core values of Malaysia Madani. The findings reveal that Malaysia, as a developing nation, not only closely adheres to the established core values of Malaysia Madani but also challenges perceived traditions associated with developing nations in an international context, as evident in official speeches and statements. The study ultimately suggests that decoding the language used in a country's official speeches and statements can provide valuable insights into its stance on international affairs.