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Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlimen / Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Dewan Rakyat / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Dewan Negara / Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1967 - LEADERSHIP President Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof (M)  Notes Sworn in on 16 July 2018. Secretary General Roosme Hamzah (F)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 223 / 223 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 31 (13.90%) Mode of designation directly elected 222 other 1 Notes Other: the Speaker The Speaker may be elected either from among elected members of the House of Representatives or from among persons who are qualified for election to the House of Representatives. Any person elected as Speaker who is not a member of the House of Representatives shall, by virtue of holding his office, become a member of the House. Term 5 years Last renewal dates 9 May 2018 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Dewan Rakyat Bangunan Parlimen Jalan Parlimen 50680 KUALA LUMPUR (Export mailing lists) Phone (603) 207 21 955 Fax (603) 207 00 986 E-mail ipumalay@parlimen.gov.my Website http://www.parlimen.gov.my

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlimen / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Dewan Rakyat / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Dewan Negara / Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 28 August 1958 Last amendment: 29/10/2003 Mode of designation directly elected 222 other 1 Constituencies 222single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Direct simple majority vote. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled within 60 days through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 21 years - Malaysian citizenship - residence in the constituency where voting - disqualifications: insanity, undischarged bankruptcy, imprisonment, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 21 years - Malaysian citizenship - residence in the country - ineligibility: insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, imprisonment for at least one year or fine of at least RM 2,000. Incompatibilities Holders of an "office of profit" (i.e., a full-time office in the public services) such as: - judge of the Federal Court or a High Court - Auditor-General - member of the Election Commission Candidacy requirements - each candidate (party member or independent) must be supported by a proposer and a seconder of same constituency. - deposit of RM 10,000, reimbursed if the candidate polls more than 1/8 of the total number of votes obtained by all the candidates in the constituency

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlimen / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Dewan Rakyat / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Dewan Negara / Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 9 May 2018 Timing and scope of renewal The Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) opposition coalition (see note), led by the former long-serving Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir, won the majority in the 222-member House of Representatives, thereby ousting Prime Minister Najib Razak's National Front (BN) coalition which had governed the country since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957. On 10 May, Mr. Mahathir, 92, was sworn in as Prime Minister, becoming the world’s eldest elected head of government. He stated that King has agreed to grant a full pardon to the opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahim Anwar (see note 2), On 21 May, Mr. Mahathir formed a new Cabinet. Ms. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Mr. Anwar's wife and President of the People's Justice Party, PKR), became the first woman Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Prior to the 2018 elections, the BN faced public anger over the cost of living and a corruption scandal involving a state-owned investment fund that emerged in 2015. In January 2018, Mr. Mahathir announced that he would contest the 2018 elections as the Pakatan Harapan's premier candidate, with the stated goal of ousting his former protégé, Prime Minister Najib. During the election campaign, the BN promised more public holidays, no toll charges during Eid and tax exemptions for Malaysians under 26 years old. The Pakatan Harapan promised to abolish the consumption tax (known as GST) and to fight corruption. Note 1: The Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) was formed in 2015 by three opposition parties: the People's Justice Party (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN, a splinter party of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The PKR, the DAP and the PAS had formed Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance, led by Mr. Anwar) for the 2013 elections but the alliance subsequently collapsed. Note 2: For five years in the 1990s Mr. Anwar was the country's deputy prime minister, before falling from favour and finding himself at the centre of a series of court cases involving allegations of corruption and sodomy. In 2008 he was again charged with sodomy. After a lengthy court battle, he was cleared in 2012. In 2014 the court battles were resumed. Anwar Ibrahim's previous acquittal was overturned and a five-year jail term handed down. Prior to the 2018 elections, Mr. Mahathir promised to secure a royal pardon for Mr. Anwar and announced that he would hand over the prime ministerial post to Mr. Anwar within two years. Date of previous elections: 5 May 2013 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 6 April 2018 Timing of election:Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: May 2023 Number of seats at stake: 222 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 686 (626 men, 60 women) Percentage of women candidates: 8.7% Number of parties contesting the election: 24 Number of parties winning seats: 6 Alternation of power: Yes Number of parties in government: 4 Names of parties in government: People's Justice Party (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 16 July 2018 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 9 May 2018 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 14'940'624 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes People's Justice Party (PKR) National Front (BN) Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) Independents (BEBES) Homeland Solidarity Party (SOLIDARITI) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats People's Justice Party (PKR) 104 National Front (BN) 79 Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) 18 Democratic Action Party (DAP) 9 Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) 8 Independents (BEBES) 3 Homeland Solidarity Party (SOLIDARITI) 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 192 31 13.90% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note: The distribution of seats according to sex includes the male Speaker who is not one of the 222 directly elected members. Sources: Parliament (21.05.2018, 17.07.2018) http://www.spr.gov.my http://pru14.spr.gov.my/#!/home BBC Monitoring http://www.bbc.com https://uk.reuters.com https://www.aljazeera.com/ https://www.thestar.com.my https://www.channelnewsasia.com https://www.straitstimes.com/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlimen / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Dewan Rakyat / House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Dewan Negara / Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Representatives Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Member of the House - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected House or when a vacancy occurs - before Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the House (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) or any person not Member of the House, but qualified to be elected as its Speaker, may be candidate - candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the House - candidatures must be supported by another Member of the House - candidatures must be deposited at least 14 days before the election Voting system - if only one candidatures is submitted : the candidates is elected without a vote or debate - if two candidatures are submitted : a vote by secret ballot is held. The simple majority is required - if more than two candidatures are submitted : a vote by secret ballot is held. In the absence of an absolute majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated after each round of voting Procedures / results - the Clerk (Setiausaha) presides over the House during the voting STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker (Timbalan Yang di-Pertua) can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of petitions, questions, bills and amendments Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders - can suspend sittings for short periods - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the Speaker's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only in the case of a tied vote

This page was last updated on 19 July 2018
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