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Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of thirteen states that are united
inside a constitutional monarchy utilizing the British System. Further, Malaysia is one of
the countries that ruled with a federal constitutional monarchy and parliamentary
constitutions, in which the federal constitution is the highest law of the land (Aun, 1999).
The Malaysian government system formed after the British arrived in the 19 th
century, the ruling system became federal, state and local government. The state and local
governments in Malaysia have their own legislative and executive bodies. Also, the
principle of separation of powers was adopted by the federal government that has three
b) Legislative (Law) - This body does not issue laws only and should not
hand over power to either party. They shall not have other powers.
c) Judiciary (Judgment)- This body can only execute judgments and cannot
There are powers and powers for all three bodies. Therefore, the legislative is related to
each other because the Malaysian government system is exercised by members of the
Legislative Council and also members of the for example, the governing body of the
Cabinet is responsible for Legislative (Malaysian Parliament). The judiciary is the only
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The Parliament is the legislative body of the Federation that promulgates laws Executable
in the entire union. Parliament controls the government Finance. Federal taxes and prices
may be higher only with effect Parliament as provided for in federal law. All returns
received will be Deposited in the Consolidated Federal Fund and all funds can only be
Spent by the power of Parliament. The party that wins the majority of its seat’s General
elections and majority support in the House of Representatives will form a government.
The royal council is the form that is responsible of selecting the ruler of the country or
whom known by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, the council select his high majesty by
choosing from 9 sultans and 4 states governors. The royal council is accountable of
approving the customs of Islam for the whole Malay confederation or disapproving it ,
the council also responsible of agreeing to any new law that is issued by the prime
minister and if the prime minister wants to make a new law the law must be agreed by
the royal council first and also disagreeing it . The royal council is also responsible of
agreeing and the giving of advice on the selection of any position, therefor it is one of its
jobs is offering opinion on the country policy and the problems linked to the
improvement of the nation. The council considers the selection of numerous important
personnel before the final appointment is made because the council also have the right to
refuse to assign this individuals because maybe this individual is not suitable to that
position ,the final appointment is made by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and by the
recommendation of the prime minister . The selections that the royal council can be
included in it are ; the appointment of the national chief judge ,two important judges and
the supreme court judge , as well as two high court judges , the appointments of the
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national audit chief , the selection of several members of the public service commission
and the election commission . Moreover, the royal council can exercise its discretionary
power by selecting or discharging the deputy of the royal highness or the Yang Di-
Pertuan Agong himself and providing assistance on any selection. they can also decide or
disagree to any law that may change the border of a state as well as affecting on the
special status, position and honor or the nobility of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong or the
The Malaysian Supreme Head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuen Agong (YDPA),
commonly known as Supreme Head or “The King”. Moreover, the current highest head
of state is ‘Pasir Sultan’ and ‘ruler Sultan Abdullah’, who took office on January 31,
2019.
Unlike the hereditary monarchy, Malaysia produces the highest head of state by
way of elections. The Supreme Heads of State were elected by the Malay Rulers
Conference as the highest head of state by electing one of the most highly qualified rulers
in the nine hereditary rulers (9 of the 13 states of Malaysia with monarchies). During his
tenure as the Supreme Head of State, he shall not concurrently serve as the ruler of the
former state and any director of a listed company. The Supreme Head of State has the
practice, he must exercise his powers in accordance with the opinions of the Prime
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Minister and the Cabinet. The Constitution also limits his powers, that is, the illusory
heads.
The official residence of the Supreme Head of State is located in the National
Palace of Kuala Lumpur. Official appointments, canals and receptions are held here; in
addition, the Supreme Head of State also has a palace called the ‘Mirati Palace in
Putrajaya’. The legal spouse of the Supreme Head of State is the highest head of state.
Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan The Senate is the Supreme Council Agong
is the head of country that which plays its role in debating takes priority over everyone in
the Law or Enactment in detail. It is also Federation and shall not be subjected
responsible for discussing the matters to claim in any proceeding in any of public
interests. Pursuant to Article Court. The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong is 68 of the Federal
Constitution, the voted among the Malay Rulers by Senate has no power to reject the
Conference of Rulers according a Law passed by the House of to the rules set out in the
third schedule Representatives before submission to the Federal Constitution and the
Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. However, rules of the Conference of Rulers. The Senate may
postpone the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong will hold the implementation of the law. situation
for five years except he quits or is removed from the position by the Senate. The senate
has 70 members, of Malay Rulers. which 44 are appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan
Agong from the citizens as the king of the country, he has who in the opinion of the King,
Executive power. He has the power to “has served with or has achieved call, cancel and
dissolve Parliament. glorious standards in public services, in using the power, he gets
commerce, industry, agriculture, advice from the Cabinet. The Yang cultural activities,
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community services Di-Pertuan Agong may perform or representatives of the smallest
three matters according to his own numbers or who can represent the discretion; appoints
Federal District is made up of four Parliament and calling for a meeting member: two
Kuala Lumpur, dignity and power of Kings. He also a member on behalf of the Federal
has the power of a pardon for all Territory of Labuan and a member offence in the
Federal District and representing the Federal Territory of certain offences under the
Internal Putrajaya are also appointed by the Security Act. He is the religious leader Yang
Di-Pertuan Agong. A total of for the Federal Territory, Malacca, 26 people are elected by
the State Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. Legislative Assembly from thirteen states in
Malaysia, and every state submits two in article 153 of the Federal Senators. Constitution,
the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for safeguarding A Speaker and his Deputy
will be the privileges of the Malays and chosen in advance for handling the Bumiputras
in Sabah and Sarawak. Assembly among its own members. Besides being a top leader in
the Membership of this Assembly is limited Federal Armed Forces, the Yang di- to
Pertuan Agong is also responsible for The term of service for a member of
determining the rights of the Malays Senate is three years and the member and
Bumiputeras, service positions, of the Senate can be appointed for scholarships, special
education or a second time and hold the post of training assistance, permit or license
Senator for the next three years. Each as well as to declare a state of senator is only
allowed to hold the emergency condition. Position for two terms. The term of service as a
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member of the Senate Lumpur (11 seats), Federal Territory is not affected by the
Territory of Putrajaya (1 seat). To change the membership of the Senate under the
Constitution, for example, to increase the number of members elected by three persons by
the Legislative council, to ensure that members of the National Assembly are elected by
The power of YDPA is only confined to the appointment of the Prime Minister
Article 34:
all the following the YDPA can’t be able to have the command to be able of interrupting
about;
Execution his responsibilities as the Ruler in his own state, excluding the head of Islam
The form of government shows how government manages the administration in a given
country. Government can be classified into sub-models indicating unity and union. The
history of Malaysia during many historical times leads to the Union-based state. In
Federalism is an association or alliance between States for mutual support and joint
action. In general, federalism is a group of states that agree to unite one major
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administration but at the same time retain a certain type of authority. This means that the
country will have a unified aspect of management but at the same time maintain its own
In Malaysia, there are 13 different states here but at the same time there is one
central government which is known as the Federation of Malaysia and at the same time
the legal administration in some provisions. During this paper, there will be a discussion
division of power between the central and state governments, as well as the effects of the
In a debate about the federation in Malaysia, the idea of the federation could bring
back the formation of a unified Malay state founded in 1895. This federation comprises
four states including Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. According to the
agreement in accordance with this union, the ruler of the state referring to the sultan
However, this union was considered a failure when the rulers of the
procrastination ruled this way for foreigners to take over the state. This can be proven
when the Malay government has absolute authority over matters. With regard to Malay
traditions and Islamic affairs. On the other hand, Malay The Sultan also dislikes the
action taken by the British by bringing in many immigrants from China to work in mines
and immigrants from India to work in the estate. In 1909 a Federal Council was created,
influencing the rulers of these countries when they have an equal position in expressing
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their ideas because they are considered as a regular member of the Council. In 1914, the
states of the Malay Peninsula were divided into three divisions: the Malays sate Union
(Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, and Perlis), And Straits Settlement (Singapore, Penang,
and Malacca). Johor became independent because her relationship with the British
The British returned to the Malay administration after Japan's invasion of World
War II. They tried to build a new way to manage this land. Since then, they have
introduced the Malay Federation. In addition, some features of Malayan Union were
against the Malay people at the time. First, the principle of shared citizenship that allows
anyone to claim Malay as their home because it is their place of birth or proper residence.
Second, Malayan Union also will make the state government lose its authority and this
will cause the rulers to lose their full authority against the people of Malaya towards the
state have a legislature, from a single chamber, from a single constituency. State
assembly members or the chief ministers from the majority party in the Dewan Undangan
Negeri led the state governments. Each state with a hereditary ruler, they advise their
respective sultans or governors. A chief minister is selected by the Sultan with the
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proposal of the Prime Minister and one of the requirements is to be an ethnic Malay.
Malaysia (Hari Malaysia, 16 September 1963). The state government of Malaysia is the
secretary of state is the head of a state government with a hereditary ruler, and the chief
minister is the head of a state government with a non-hereditary head of state. The former
includes 9 states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Selangor, Sammy, glass
city and Pahang, while the latter includes 4 states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah and
Sarawak.
The state government of each state is established and operated according to the
state constitution and is headed by the state secretary or chief minister, who is elected by
The state minister or chief minister must take an oath before the state governor (sultan,
rajah, head of state), form a list of state cabinet members and be appointed by the state
governor. The executive branch of a state is the state executive council or state cabinet,
commonly known as the state government. It is composed of the party with the most seats
in the state legislature. The highest head of the state administration is the minister of state
or chief minister, under which there are four to ten executive councilors or ministers.
centralized country. Although the state governments have autonomy in land resources
and local government operation, their actual operation is often restricted by federal laws
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and AD hoc central councils All state constitutions are required to incorporate the agreed
"political provisions" into the eighth table of the federal constitution. These conditions
require the Governor to act by advice, have a Legislative Council elected in the state, and
appoint an adviser and an Executive Council to advise him. If the states fail to comply,
the federal parliament can, by ordinary law under Article 71(3) and (4), amend the state
Constitution to give effect to the essential provisions. If a Chief Minister or the head of
minister is not able of being trusted by the majority of the members of the Dewan
Undangan, he has to resign. There is a similarity between the Executive Council and the
Council of Ministers at the federal body. First, the Governor appoints the Prime Minister
and is a member of the Legislative Council, which is supposed to gain the trust of the
majority of the members of the Council in the party system. The Governor then assign the
members of the Executive Council after consulting the Prime Minister. The Prime
Minister will ultimately be the President of the Executive Council. There for any member
of the State Government Meeting Council will not be able to practice in any trade,
business or profession which has connection with any government departments. The state
government must develop and solve any problem that considered under the state rule
Conclusion
In general, the executive body of the government is head by the Prime minister, chosen by the
YDPA. The Prime minister rule the administrative body and the government [Cabinet] along with
the party that grips the majority and parliament. YDPA has the executive power; hence all the
government are carried out by the yang di-pertuan Agong. In the Malaysian constitution, the
concept of the power separation is not practice thoroughly. This is due to the fact that
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three branches – the legislative, executive and judiciary are interconnected with one
another.
As per the constitution, the YDPA is compulsory to act based on the advice of the royal
council and the prime minister. [His Highness acts on discretion when taking action
without the advice of the cabinets.] Overall, the executive power is exercised by the
federal and the states executive governments and the 13 state of government.
References
- Jeong Chun Hai @ Ibrahim, & Nor Fadzlina Nawi. (2012). Principles of Public Administration:
Malaysian Perspectives. Kuala Lumpur: Pearson Publishers.
- Muhammad Azzubair Awwam Mustafa, (2012), ( (1226339) Section 1 Mr. Abbas Hassan
Introduction to Law and Government (PSCI 1020) Federalism in Malaysia.
- Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak Director General, (2016) Minister of Communications and
Department of Information, Multimedia Malaysia Level 18 Ministry of Communications and
Multimedia Malaysia
ADVISOR Lot 4G9, Persiaran Perdana, Precinct 4,
Federal Government Administrative
Dato’ Haji Ibrahim Abdul Rahman Centre, 62100 Putrajaya, Malaysia
(http://www.penerangan.gov.my/dmdocuments/malaysia_2016_en/files/basic-html/).
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