MALAYSIA

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT
 
Chamber:
  Dewan Rakyat


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


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General Information | Electoral System
Last Elections | Parliamentary Mandate | Full text
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