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MALAYSIA
Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlimen / Parliament
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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


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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

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

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

LAST ELECTIONS

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 19 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/

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

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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