There are two main themes explored in this paper. The first theme analyses the political change of the KD from 1981 to 2003. An analysis of elections results both at the state and parliamentary levels will be adopted to examine the extent to which the KD’s voting behaviour to a particular party or individual has changed and subsequently influenced their political alignment. The second theme focuses on the course and consequences of socio-economic development during the same period. Both themes are examined against the backdrop of the Mahathir era.  Publication: 4th International Malaysian Studies Conference; 3-5 August 2004, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi.  Authors: Arnold Puyok & Jurin W. Gunsalam.