MALAYSIA

This page contains the complete text of PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary Chamber or unicameral Parliament

GENERAL INFORMATION

Parliament (generic name):

Parlimen

Translated name:

Parliament

Structure:

Bicameral

Chamber:

Dewan Negara

Translated name:

Senate

President:

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Abdul Hamid Pawanteh ( M)

Secretary General:

Datuk Zamani bin Sulaiman ( M)

Members (statutory number):

members
- 26 indirectly elected
- 44 appointed by the Head of State

Members (current number):

Women (current number):

17 ( 28.81%)

Term:

Continuous Renewal takes place at various dates depending on the expiry of the senators' term. Each senator may serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

Last renewal dates:

not applicable

Address:

Dewan Negara
Bangunan Parlimen
50680 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel.: (603) 207 21 955
Fax: (603) 207 00986
E-mail: ipumalay@parlimen.gov.my
Cable: Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur

Web site:

http://www.parlimen.gov.my

Affiliation to IPU:

Yes

Affiliation date(s):

1967

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Electoral Law:

28 August 1958

Last amendment: 29/10/2003

Constituencies:

13 multi-members constituencies, corresponding to the country's States.

Voting System:

Indirect voting. Each of the 13 State Legislative Assemblies elects 2 Senators.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections or appointment within 60 days.

Voter requirements:

- membership of State Legislative Assembly

Eligibility:

Qualified electors
- age: 30 years
- Malaysian citizenship
- residence in the country
- ineligibility: allegiance to a foreign State, imprisonment for at least one year or fine of at least M$ 2,000

Incompatibilities:

- Holders of an "office of profit" (i.e., a full-time office in any of 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

LAST ELECTIONS

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

Dates of election / renewal (from/to):

not applicable

Purpose of elections:

N/A (indirect elections)

Background and outcome of elections:

N/A (indirect elections)

STATISTICS

Comments:

Source: Parliament (09.04.2008)

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men:

Women:

Percent of women:

Distribution of seats according to age:

Distribution of seats according to profession:

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE

Title:

President of the Senate (Tuan Yang di-Pertua)

Term:

- duration: 3 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution

Appointment:

- elected by all Senators
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate or when a vacancy occurs
- before Senators are sworn in

Eligibility:

- any Senator can be a candidate
- candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Senator
- candidatures must be supported by another Member of the Senate

Voting system:

- if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate 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 Senate during the voting

STATUS

Status:

- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President (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 Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Senator 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 Senate

Speaking and voting rights, other functions:

- takes part in voting, only in the case of a tied vote

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Nature of the mandate:

NA (no information received)

Start of the mandate:

NA (no information received)

Validation of mandates:

NA (no information received)

End of the mandate:

NA (no information received)

Can MPs resign ?

Yes

NA (no information received)

Can MPs lose their mandate ?

Yes

NA (no information received)

STATUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS

Rank in hierarchy:

NA (no information received)

Indemnities, facilities and services:

NA (no information received)

Obligation to declare personal assets:

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability:

NA (no information received)

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability:

NA (no information received)

EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE

Training:

NA (no information received)

Participation in the work of the Parliament:

NA (no information received)

Discipline:

NA (no information received)

Code (rules) of conduct:

NA (no information received)

Relations between MPs and pressure group:

NA (no information received)

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

General Information | Electoral System
Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate
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