This document discusses the political party system and election process in Malaysia. It outlines the ruling and opposition parties, types of elections including general and by-elections, and the roles and functions of the Malaysian Election Commission which includes conducting elections, registering voters and candidates, and declaring results. It also provides details on the requirements to become a voter or candidate. The election process involves secret ballots counted at polling centers, with elections held every five years according to the single-member plurality system.

1. POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE
ELECTION SYSTEM IN MALAYSIA

2. LESSON OBJECTIVES
5.1 Party system in Malaysia
5.1.1 Ruling Party in Malaysia
5.1.2 Opposition Parties in Malaysia
5.2 The Election System in Malaysia
- Types of election
- The history of elections in Malaysia
- The roles of Malaysian Election Commission
- The election process in Malaysia
- Issues related to the election in Malaysia
5.3 Malaysian Political Culture
- Political Partisan VS Non-Partisan
- The Current political leadership
- The roles of Interest Groups, Pressure Groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil
Society and Mass Media in Malaysian Politics
- The future of the Malaysian political culture and landscape

3. THE ELECTION SYSTEM IN
MALAYSIA
Election means that the action of a citizen who fulfills the
condition or voting or choosing a candidate or representative,
who in his opinion is able and capable of representing the
community in an electoral constituency.
The process of choosing a representative is termed ‘to
vote’.
The whole process finally determines which candidate
or party wins or forms the government.

4. THE ELECTION SYSTEM IN
MALAYSIA
Elections serve as a mechanism whereby citizens choose their
leaders. This makes a difference between a constitutional
democracy and an authoritarian form of government.
A general election must be held within 60 days of
dissolution of Parliament and the new Parliament must be
summoned within 120 days of dissolution.
A casual vacancy must be filled by holding a by-election
(Dewan Rakyat) or by appointment (Dewan Negara)
within 60 days.

5. TYPES OF ELECTIONS
• For the whole country held once in five years.
• Only held after Parliament or the State
Legislative Assembly is dissolved.
GENERAL
ELECTION
• Considered as a general election because the
concept of the election itself constitutes the
choosing of a representative by the public
citizens for both the Councils, Parliament and
the State Legislative assembly.
BY-
ELECTION

6. ELECTION COMMISSION
• FUNCTIONS:
a) Elections are under the control of an independent Election
Commission.
b) Its functions are:
To conduct federal
and state elections
including by-elections.
To register voters,
prepare and revise the
electoral rolls
To review, once every
eight years, federal
and state constituency
boundaries.
To decide on date for
nomination day.
To register candidates
on nomination day.
To count votes and
declare results.

7. ELECTION COMMISSION
• CONDITIONS TO BECOME AN ELECTION CANDIDATE:
Can be an
independent
candidate (not form
a political party)
Malaysian citizen of
21 years old or
above
Registered as a
voter
Registered as a
candidate on the
nomination day
Not declared
bankrupt by the
courts.
Not receiving a fine
of RM 2000 or more
or jail sentence of 1
year or more.

8. ELECTION COMMISSION
• CONDITIONS TO BECOME A VOTER
Malaysian citizen
21 years old or
above
Registered as a
voter
Mentally healthy Not in jail
Residing in the
constituency (for
state only) that
he/she registered

9. • According to the Constitution, Article 119 (10, every
Malaysian can vote for the House of Representatives or
State Legislative Council election
• Voting is done by secret ballot
• The counting of votes to be done at the polling center, itself
• Parliament and State elections are to be held every five
years
• Election results are determined by the Westminster single-
member / “first past the post” system
• Members of Parliament are barred from resigning from their
seats to effect by-elections
ELECTION COMMISSION

10. ELECTION COMMISSION
• Upon the advice of PM, the King announces the
dissolution of Parliament. State assemblies are also
dissolved by their respective heads of state.PM and
Menteri Besar or CM continue as caretaker heads of
government
• EC announces the nomination and polling dates.
• General election must be held within 60 days to fill
the vacancies but nominations must be held not
earlier than four days after the date of publication
of the notices