Civic guide
How Malaysia works
Election numbers answer who won. These guides explain how institutions work, who is responsible and why political thresholds matter.Continue from your election location
Direct answers first. Legal and institutional detail follows only when it helps.
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Connected to real evidence. Concepts link back to constituencies, results and official records.
Foundations
Start with the institutions and levels of government.
System overviewHow Malaysia is governedMalaysia is a federation and a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Public power is divided among the legislature, executive and judiciary, and between federal and state governments.Federal legislatureParliament, Dewan Rakyat and Dewan NegaraMalaysia's Parliament consists of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Dewan Negara and the Dewan Rakyat. It makes federal laws, scrutinises government policy and finance, and provides a national forum for public issues.State legislatureWhat a state assembly doesEach Malaysian state has a State Legislative Assembly, commonly called the DUN. Voters elect an ADUN for each state constituency, and the assembly makes state laws on subjects assigned to the state.
Representation and responsibility
Work out who represents you and which institution owns an issue.
Representation guideMP vs ADUN: who represents what?An MP represents a parliamentary constituency in the federal Dewan Rakyat. An ADUN represents a state constituency in a State Legislative Assembly. Their boundaries can overlap, but their legislative roles are different.Who is responsible?Federal, state and local responsibilityStart with the institution that has legal or operational responsibility. Federal, state and local bodies have different powers, and an elected representative is not automatically the agency that delivers a service.Vacancy and by-electionWhat happens when a seat becomes vacant?A vacancy does not automatically mean an immediate by-election in every circumstance. The relevant constitution, the date the vacancy is established, time remaining in the legislature and any effect on the governing majority can change the process.
Power and process
Read majorities, government formation and law-making without political shorthand.
Voting thresholdWhat a two-thirds majority meansA two-thirds threshold is higher than an ordinary majority. In the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, two-thirds of the total membership is 148, while an ordinary outright majority is 112.Confidence and governmentHow a federal government is formedThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints as Prime Minister a member of the Dewan Rakyat who in His Majesty's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of that House. Seat totals are evidence of support, but the constitutional question is confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.Legislative processHow a bill becomes law in MalaysiaA federal bill is introduced, debated and voted on through parliamentary stages. It normally passes through both Houses before the royal-assent and gazette steps that complete the legislative process.
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