Parliament of Malaysia

Muzium Negara Gallery D

Article 55 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that only Seri Paduka Baginda yang di-Pertuan Agong can call for Parliament to be in session. His Highness also has the special power to end or dissolve the Parliament.

The Federal Parliament is made up of

1. Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Paramount Ruler
2. Senate or Dewan Negara
3. House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat

Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Senate

The senate consists of 70 members. The membership of the Senate is made up of 2 categories

• 26 members elected by the State Legislative Assembly to represent 13 states (each state represented by 2 members)
• 44 members appointed by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister, including 2 members from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and 1 member from each of the Federal Territories of Labuan and Putrajaya.

The Tenure of office is a 3-year term for a maximum of 2 terms, applicable to both federal and state appointments.

House of Representative

Dewan Rakyat has 219 elected members. A General Election must be held no longer that once every 5 years to elect members of the Dewan Rakyat.

Customarily, a Bill originates in the Dewan Rakyat. Once approved, it is tabled in the Dewan Negara for another round of debate. After that the Bill has to be approved before being presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his consent.

The Bill will then be gazetted in the form of Government Gazette. This makes the Bill a law as stated in the Government Gazette.

Parliament of Malaysia

See Parliament House for more info

Get this very informative book, Understanding the Dewan Rakyat, by The Nut Graph.