Abstract : The policy discourse as evidenced by mainly economic and political factors suggest that the state
or government aims to maintain control and attempts to consolidate power often through
coercion and force in developing countries. Complementarities of various tools in shaping public
policy are often utilized. Making sense of the situational context of policy-making and
legitimacy often varies according to an analyst‟s frame of reference, information, disciplinary
alliance, and/or ideology. This paper will evaluate the ecology of power relations, ideological
orientation, service delivery, and pertinent policies in pursuing its legitimacy in state capacity in
Malaysia.