Government System of Malaysia

1. Malaysian Studies
Lesson 8
Malaysian Government System

2. The main components of Malaysian Government
System
The formation of the
Malaysian government
system
The main components of the
Malaysian Government System
The Executive Body
The Royal Council
The Legislative Body
The Judiciary Body

3. • Malaya instituted a new administrative structure,
known as Power Segregation System upon gaining
independence.
• This style of administrative was proposed by
Montesqiu. He suggested the ruling pattern in a
country to be segregated to avoid power domination
by certain party.
• In the Malaysian context today, this segregation
theory can be seen in three main forms of the ruling
powers.

4. Power Segregation System
Three Main Branches of Government
Executive Body ( Administration ) Carries out matters involving the
administration of the country.
Legislative Body ( Law ) Formulates the drafting of laws
Judiciary Body ( Judgement ) Executes and dispenses justice

5. The main components of the Malaysian Government
System
The Royal Council
The Executive
Body
The Legislative
Body
The Judiciary
Body

6. • The Royal Council is the official body with the most
superior position. It is made up of nine Sultans and four
state governors.
• Among the responsibilities carried out by the Council are :
o Selecting the High Majesty ( Yang di-Pertuan Agong ) and
his deputy.
o Approving or disapproving the customs of Islam for the
whole of the Malay Federation, except Sabah and Sarawak.
o Agreeing or disagreeing to any law or offering advice on
the appointment of any position which requires the
approval of the Royal Council.
o Giving their opinion on country policy and matters related
to the development of the country.

7. The main components of the Malaysian Government System
The Royal Majesty
Legislative Body
Parliament
Administrative Body
Senate
House of
Representative
Commission
Judiciary Body
Ministry
The Cabinet
The Prime Minister
Supreme Court
Chief Court
High Court
Lower Court

8. • His Majesty, The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA),
acts as the Head of Country and the head to
three branches of the government.
• Among the duties of the YDPA include :
 advisory duties
 discretionary duties
 being the highest ruler of the military
 approving the draft of the laws
 declaring an emergency when needed
 giving amnesty

9. DULI YANG MAHA MULIA SERI PADUKA BAGINDA YANG
DIPERTUAN AGONG SULTAN ABDUL HALIM MUADZAM SYAH IBNI
ALMARHUM SULTAN BADLISAH

10. The executive Power at the Federation Level
The Board of Ministers / Cabinet
The Prime Minister
Minister
The Deputy Minister
The Cabinet Ministers

11. • The main duty of the cabinet is formulating and
executing the country’s highest policy.
• The body is led by the Prime Minister and his
other ministers.
• The Prime Minister is appointed by His Majesty,
the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
• The other ministers are appointed by the YDPA
after being advised by the Prime Minister.

12. The Executive Power at the State Level
King/Sultan/State Governor
The State Government Meeting
Council
The State Legislative Assembly

13. The state level administration
• All administrative matters are confined within the State
Constitution.
• The issues which fall under state rule include
 Religion
 Agriculture
 Education
 Forestry
 Land administration
 Water
 Any other others which are pivotal for the
development of the state.

14. The Royal Majesty ( YDPA )
The Royal Council
Parliament
The Legislative Body at the Federation Level

15. The structure of the Malaysian Parliament
Parliament
Senate
House of
Representatives

16. Parliament
• Consist of the YDPA, the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
The Senate
• Consist of 69 members or senators.
• A senator’s position lasts for three years and he cannot hold
this position for more than two terms.
• A senator must also be 30 years of age and above.
The House of Representatives
• Consist of 195 members ( 182 from the states in Malaysia, 10
from KL Federation Territory and 3 from Labuan Federation
Territory.
• Must be of 21 years of age and above.

17. The function and powers of the Parliament.
• To make, alter/abolish the law ( legislative power )
• To impose new taxes, additional ones or abolish
any taxes.
• To approve the nation’s budget for a specific year.

18. The process of enacting the law in the parliament.
• The parliament has the power to make the laws in the
way that the Senate and the House of Representatives
approve a draft of the laws as well as by the YDPA.
• Every draft of the bill must be approved by a
Parliamentary council through four stages before it is
approved, which are :
a) The First Reading
b) The Second Reading
c) Discussion at the Committee Level
d) The Third Reading

19. The Stages for the Drafting of Any Law
The Third Reading
The draft of law will be brought to the House of Representatives to be approved, if necessary
The Committee level
The draft of law will be amended, if necessary
The Second Reading
The draft of law will be debated as to its impact and its use to the people and country
The First Reading
The draft of law raised by a minister in brief

20. The legislative power at the State Level
King/Sultan/State Governor/ State Legislative Assembly
The State Legislative Body
The Membership of the State Legislative Body
1. The main function of the King/Sultan/State Governor is to :-
i. call upon the State Legislative Assembly to have a
meeting, to stop and dismiss it.
ii. Acts to give approval to the state laws that have been
approved by the State Legislative Assembly.

21. • To execute the judicial duties in this country, a
court system in needed.
The System and Pattern of Justice in Malaysia
Court
Federal Court State Court

22. 1. The court in Malaysia is based on the federation system.
2. Supreme Court, High Court, Section Court, Appellate
Court, Magistrate Court, Military Court, Labour Court,
and Mineral Inspection Court are all federations
( comes under Federation government and not the State
government. )
3. The Malaysian courts are divided into two:
a) The Federation Court, consisting of Superior Court,
Lower Court and Special Court.
b) The State Court, consisting of the Shari’a and the
Custom Courts.

23. Classification of courts in Malaysia
The Federation Court
1. Superior Court • Supreme Court
• Appellate Court
• High Court of Malaya and Borneo
2. Lower Court • Section Court
• Juvenile Court
• Magistrate Court Class I and Class II
• Minor Demand Court
• Chieftain Court

24. 3. Special Court • Military Court
• Industrial Court
• Labour Court
• Special Royal Court
• State Court
State Court
1. Shari’a Court • Shari’a Appellate Court
• Shari’a High Court
2. Custom Court
( Sabah and Sarawak )
• District Custom Court
• Officer / Custom Head Court
• Chieftain Court