MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE

GAVIN CRUZ & REYCY

VASQUEZ
MALAYSIA

Mr. Gavin Cruz

 PRE-COLONIAL

HISTOR
THEN THE FIRST OF

Y
PERIOD THEM CAME...

 The Malay society was first and
foremost a feudal society
governed by a sultan.
 This sultan is assisted by senior
and minor chiefs in each state,
but ultimately, the sultan
answers to no one but himself.
 Malaysia was then colonized by
Portugal in 1511, before being
bought by the Dutch East India
Company in 1641.
 Britain established colonies on
Malay Peninsula by the late 18th
century.
THEN THE FIRST OF
THEM CAME...
 In 1824, the Anglo-Dutch Treaty
was agreed upon to set
boundaries between the British
and Dutch colonies, with the
majority of the peninsula
dominated by the former.
 Hence, Malaysia was then under
control of the British, forming
the Federated Malay States in
1896.
HISTOR
THEN CAME MORE
Y
OF THEM…
 During the World War, Japan then
came to overthrow British rule of
the Malay Peninsula, before
eventually surrendering its hold
onto it to the British once more
after the bombing in Hiroshima
and Nagasaki.
 The Federation of Malay became
independent by 1957.
 HISTOR
Y
THEN CAME MORE
OF THEM…

 British colonies (including

Singapore) joined the Federation
of Malaya to form the Federation
of Malaysia on September 16,
1963. Afterwards, Singapore was
expelled from Malaysia due to
political and racial concerns.
 Wednesday
 It Comprises 13 states and 3
FORMS OF federal territories.
GOVERNMENT

OF GOV
FORMS
 Executive power is exercised by
 In present time, Malaysia is a the federal government in each of
Monday
federal democratic constitutional the states.
Thursday
monarchy with a ceremonial head
 Each state has its own written
of state known as the Yang di-
Pertuan Agong. constitution, legislative assembly,
and executive council.
 The Federal Government has its
Tuesday Friday
headquarter in Kuala Lumpur
while the Federal Executive lies
in Putrajaya.
 EXECUTIVE  The Prime Minister shall serve for
5 years or less (in accordance to
 The highest power. the trust of the king and its

OF GOV
FORMS
constituents)
 The main seat of power is in the
hands of the Prime Minister.  The term is renewable
Monday Thursday
Description and Qualifications  Shall be a member of the Dewan
to Appointment
Rahyat (House of
Representatives)
 Shall serve as the head of the
Tuesday
government  Friday
 The Prime Minister has the power
to appoint and command the
 Appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan
majority of the house members.
Agong or the King
 LEGISLATIVE
Dewan Rakyat (The House
of Representatives)
 The lower house of the bicameral
parliament
Monday
 Consists of 222 members known
as Members of Parliament in
which the majority is  
Tuesday
 Elected by first-past-the-post
voting system
 Term of office is as long as the
members win in the elections.
 Responsible for passing,
amending, and repealing primary
legislation known as the Acts of
OF GOV
FORMS
Parliament.
 In case of the Prime Minister’s
Thursday
death, the King shall then select
his successor to take his place.
The House has the power to
bypass the Senate’s judgement if
Friday
legislation of a bill gets rejected
twice in between the span of a
year.
 LEGISLATIVE  Term of office is 3 years and can
Dewan Negara (House of only be re-appointed once,
Senate) consecutively or non-

OF GOV
FORMS
consecutively.
 The upper parliament
Monday  May initiate legislation, except
Thursday
 Consists of 70 members most of for fiscal policies.
which are appointed by the King
on the recommendation of the
Prime Minister, while one-third
Tuesday
is elected by legislative Friday
assemblies.
 Breakdown of Composition • The remaining 40 are
appointed upon the
recommendation of the

OF GOV
FORMS
 Each of the 13 state legislative
assemblies chooses 2 senators Prime Minister

Monday
 The King appoints: Thursday

• 2 for the Federal Territory

of Kuala Lumpur

• 1 for the Federal Territory

Tuesday Friday
of Labuan

• 1 for the Federal Territory

of Putrajaya
 JUDICIARY

OF GOV
FORMS
 The Federal Court is the highest  Religious courts handle cases that
court in Malaysia composed of have connections to Islamic law
15 federal justices, branched out and custom.
Monday
to the High Court of Peninsular Thursday
Malaysia, the High Court of
Sabah, and the High Court in
Sarawak.

 has a unified judicial system,

Tuesday Friday
and all courts take knowledge of
both federal and state laws.
 THE MALAYSIAN POLITICAL
GAME
 Anwar Ibrahim is a known icon in Malaysia’s strive for a democratic system ever since
the late 1990s. However, over 30 years later, it is yet a prophecy to materialize.

 Several democratic reforms have been presented, yet never really put into stone.

NOTES
 Since independence, the country has seen its fair share of an authoritarian and illiberal
rule. 
 Mahathir Mohaman formed a new party in 2016,  recruiting the then jailed Anwar and
promising to give him the power if ever he won.

 Mahathir rewrote his autocratic legacy with a new messianic narrative: only he could
save Malaysia from the “evil” and “kleptocratic rule” of Najib.
 THE MALAYSIAN POLITICAL
GAME
 However, as Mahathir won, his promise to Anwar was never fulfilled, leading to a
political chaos in 2020 afterwards resigning.

 The current scenario of Malaysia’s political environment is divided into: the former

NOTES
prime minister, Mahathir’s supporters, and the new prime minister, Yassin’s supporters.

 Malaysia’s push for reform these days are hindered because of the lack of support that
the prime minister receives from the majority.