Government and Politics of Malaysia

Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 3 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Putrajaya*, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*

Legal System

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 out 12 years preceding application

Executive Branch

chief of state: Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor (since 31 January 2024) head of government: Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party or coalition that commands a majority in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister election results: Sultan IBRAHIM ibni Sultan Iskandar elected as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, taking the oath of office on 31 January 2024; ANWAR Ibrahim appointed prime minister following the November 2022 general election after his Pakatan Harapan-led coalition secured enough support to form a unity government

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the paramount ruler, and 26 elected by the 13 state legislative assemblies) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (222 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 19 November 2022 (next must be held by 2027). Election results: House of Representatives - seats by party - Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition 82, Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition 73, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) 23, Barisan Nasional (BN) 30, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) 6, other and independents 8. Following the election, Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Prime Minister and formed a unity government coalition.

Judicial Branch

Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister)

Political Parties

ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN, consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [CHONG Kah Kiat]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DUNDANG]; opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA - consists of PAS and PKR

Head of State

Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor

Head of Government

Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the king

Elections

House of Representatives - last held on 19 November 2022 (next must be held by 2027).

Election Results

House of Representatives - seats by party - Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition 82, Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition 73, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) 23, Barisan Nasional (BN) 30, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) 6, other and independents 8. Following the election, Pakatan Harapan leader Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Prime Minister and formed a unity government coalition.

Constitution

31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963

Independence

31 August 1957 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

International Organization Participation

APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700 FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50400 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152 telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000 FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Capital City

Kuala Lumpur; note - nearby Putrajaya is referred to as a federal government administrative center but not the capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Location

3 10 N, 101 42 E

Time Difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the Malay word for "river junction or estuary" is kuala and lumpur means "mud"; together the words render the meaning of "muddy confluence"

U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur. P.O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur. Emergency after-hours telephone: (60-3) 2168-5000 (after business hours, please press 1 at the recording). The American Citizen services unit's telephone number: (60-3) 2168-4997/4979 Consular section's fax number: (60-3) 2148-5801. General fax number: (60-3) 2142-2207. E-mail - klacs@state.gov.

Military Branches

Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM)

Service Age and Obligation

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; women serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces; no conscription