A presentation on the provisions of the Malaysian Constitution which relate to Federal Elections, covering topics such as the Parliamentary cycle, federal constituencies, Election Commission, and the formation of Cabinet.

1. Version dated 27 May 2012

4. ≤ 5 years
Each Parliament lasts for 5 years
from its first meeting,
unless dissolved earlier by the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
at the PM’s request
New Parliament Elections, Next
Parliament Dissolved within Parliament,
60 days of within
dissolution 120 days of
dissolution

5. The 12th
Parliament held its
first meeting on
28 April 2008
It will
automatically
dissolve in April
2013, if not
dissolved earlier
by the Yang di-
Pertuan Agong.

7. Lower Upper
House. House.
222 elected 70
MPs appointed
senators.
Dewan Dewan
Rakyat Negara

8. The 222 Dewan Rakyat MPs represent the following constituencies:
Kedah Perlis Kelantan Terengganu Labuan Sabah
15 3 14 8 1 25
Penang
13
Perak Pahang
24 14
Selangor Johor
22 26
K. Lumpur
11
Putrajaya N. Sembilan Malacca Sarawak
1 8 6 31

10. A citizen may vote in an election
if he or she:
Is 21 years Is resident in a Is registered in
*
***
of age ** constituency the electoral roll
or, if not a as an elector in
resident, is an the constituency
absent voter in which he or
she resides

12. 1. YDPA appoints PM
Acting in his discretion, the YDPA first appoints as Prime Minister a member
of the Dewan Rakyat who in the YDPA’s judgment is likely to command the
confidence of the majority of that Dewan; and
2. YDPA appoints other Ministers under PM’s advice
Acting on the advice of the PM, the YDPA appoints other Ministers from
among the members of either the Dewan Rakyat or the Dewan Negara.
Cabinet is formed ✔

13. Under the Constitution, any member of the Dewan
Rakyat who “commands the confidence of the
majority” of the Dewan may be appointed as the
Prime Minister. There are no other qualification
requirements in the Constitution for anyone to
become a PM.

15. The 7 members of the EC are in effect
appointed by the Prime Minister, through
this process: Chairman, EC
Deputy Chairman, EC
PM
PM advises the Ordinary Member, EC
YDPA to appoint YDPA appoints*
a person that person to the
selected by the EC, after Ordinary Member, EC
PM as a consulting the
member of the Conference of Ordinary Member, EC
EC Rulers
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
* The YDPA, as a constitutional monarch, is required
to act on the advice of the PM

16. Security of Tenure Chairman, EC
To enhance the independence of the
Deputy Chairman, EC
EC, its members:
• cannot be removed except on
Ordinary Member, EC
exceptional grounds, such as
infirmity of mind or bankruptcy
Ordinary Member, EC
• cannot be MPs, senators or State
legislative assembly members
Ordinary Member, EC
Furthermore, their remuneration and
other terms of appointment cannot Ordinary Member, EC
be altered to their detriment.
Ordinary Member, EC

17. The main functions of the Election Commission are to:
Conduct Federal and Prepare and revise Recommend
State elections electoral rolls for alterations to
elections Federal and State
Constituencies
1 2 3

18. Review of Federal and State Constituencies
The EC has the discretion to conduct reviews of
constituencies and recommend changes.
There must be at least 8 years
Review I between the end of one review and
Review II
(To take no more (To take no more
than 2 years) the start of the next than 2 years)

19. Guiding Principles/Considerations for Review of
Constituencies
Number of voters
in each state
Availability of
State constituency The inconveniences
administrative
Constituencies constituencies should be arising from the
facilities within
should not cross should not cross approximately alteration and the
each constituency
State boundaries federal equal, with maintenance of
for registration and
constituencies weightage for area local ties
voting
in respect of rural
constituencies
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20. This presentation is published on:
http://www.slideshare.net/mbl2020
Also available:
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