the malaysian constitution's provisions on federal elections
DESCRIPTION
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.TRANSCRIPT
The Malaysian Constitution’s provisions on
Federal Elections
Version dated 27 May 2012
Content
1 Parliamentary Cycle2 Parliament3 Voters4 Formation of
Cabinet5 Election Commission
1 Parliamentary
Cycle
≤ 5 yearsEach 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
Parliament Dissolved
Next Parliament,
within 120 days ofdissolution
Elections,within
60 days ofdissolution
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.
2 Parliament
Dewan Rakyat
Dewan Negara
Lower House.
222 elected MPs
Upper House.
70 appointed senators.
The 222 Dewan Rakyat MPs represent the following constituencies:
Sarawak
31
Perak
24
N. Sembilan
8
K. Lumpur
11
Selangor
22
Penang
13
Johor
26
Perlis
3Kedah
15Labuan
1Kelantan
14Terengganu
8
Pahang
14
Sabah
25
Malacca
6Putrajaya
1
3 Voters
* Is 21 years of age
** Is resident in a constituency or, if not a resident, is an absent voter
*** Is registered in
the electoral roll as an elector in the constituency in which he or she resides
A citizen may vote in an election if he or she:
4 Formation of
Cabinet
Cabinet is formed ✔
2. YDPA appoints other Ministers under PM’s adviceActing on the advice of the PM, the YDPA appoints other Ministers from among the members of either the Dewan Rakyat or the Dewan Negara.
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
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.
Must the Malaysian PM be of any particular race or religion?
5Election
Commission
PM advises the YDPA to appoint
a person selected by the
PM as a member of the
EC
YDPA appoints* that person to the EC, after
consulting the Conference of
Rulers
The 7 members of the EC are in effect appointed by the Prime Minister, through this process: Chairman, EC
Deputy Chairman, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
* The YDPA, as a constitutional monarch, is required to act on the advice of the PM
PM
Security of TenureTo enhance the independence of the EC, its members:• cannot be removed except on
exceptional grounds, such as infirmity of mind or bankruptcy
• cannot be MPs, senators or State legislative assembly members
Furthermore, their remuneration and other terms of appointment cannot be altered to their detriment.
Chairman, EC
Deputy Chairman, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
Ordinary Member, EC
The main functions of the Election Commission are to:
Conduct Federal and State elections
Prepare and revise electoral rolls for
elections
Recommend alterations to
Federal and State Constituencies
1 2 3
Review II(To take no more
than 2 years)
Review of Federal and State ConstituenciesThe EC has the discretion to conduct reviews of
constituencies and recommend changes.
Review I(To take no more
than 2 years)
There must be at least 8 years between the end of one review and
the start of the next
Guiding Principles/Considerations for Review of Constituencies
Constituencies should not cross State boundaries
State constituencies
should not cross federal
constituencies
Availability of administrative facilities within
each constituency for registration
and voting
Number of voters in each state constituency
should be approximately
equal, with weightage for
area in respect of rural
constituencies
The inconveniences arising from the
alteration and the maintenance of
local ties
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
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