Federalism in Malaysia

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Politics of
Malaysia

Head of State

* Yang di-Pertuan Agong

* Ibrahim Iskandar

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* Conference of Rulers

Legislature

* Parliament of Malaysia

* 15th Parliament

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* Senate (Dewan Negara)

* President Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah

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* House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)

* Speaker Johari Abdul
* Leader of the Government Anwar Ibrahim
* Leader of the Opposition Hamzah Zainudin

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Executive

* Cabinet

* Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

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* Civil service (agencies)

* Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar

Judiciary

* Federal Court

* Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat

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* Court of Appeal

* President Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim

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* High Court in Malaya ∙ High Court in Sabah and Sarawak

* Chief Judge of Malaya Vacant
* Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli

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Elections

* Election Commission of Malaysia

* General elections: 2022

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* Electoral districts

Political parties

* BN
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List of political parties in Malaysia

Federalism

* State governments

* Chief ministers of the states

* State legislatures (members)

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* Local governments (list)

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Federalism in Malaysia dates back to the establishment of the Federated Malay States in Peninsular Malaysia, then known as Malaya. Federalism in Malaysia took a more concrete form with the establishment of the Federation of Malaya. The merger of Malaya with Singapore, North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak further complicated the situation. As of 2008, although Malaysia is a de jure federation, many perceive it as a de facto unitary state. Some suggest that opposition triumphs in several of the 2008 state elections will alter the political climate and approach towards federalism.

## State governments

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The state governments are led by chief ministers (Menteri Besar or Ketua Menteri, the latter term being used in states without hereditary rulers), selected by the state assemblies (Dewan Undangan Negeri) advising their respective sultans or governors.

## Resemblance of unitary state

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Although Malaysia is a federal state, political scientists have suggested that its "federalism is highly centralised":

> Our federalism gives the federal government not only the most legislative and executive powers but also the most important sources of revenue. State governments are excluded from the revenues of income tax, export, import and excise duties, and they are also largely restricted from borrowing internationally. They have to depend on revenue from forests, lands, mines, petroleum, the entertainment industry, and finally, transfer payments from the central government.[1]

The 2008 general elections saw a loose coalition between the Democratic Action Party, People's Justice Party and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party win a majority in five of the thirteen state legislative assemblies. Previously, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition controlled twelve of the state governments, with the exception of Kelantan. In an editorial, The Sun suggested that this would herald changes for the relationship between state and federal governments:

> [Civil servants] have got used to Malaysia acting like a unitary state because most of the time all the states are ruled by BN parties. And the states act as one because of political control effected through the state BN. But as a result of the general election five states are now ruled by non-BN parties and there is likelihood they are going to act more individually than they have been in the past.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Wong, Chin Huat (25 July 2007). "Weakened federalism in the new federation". The Sun. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020.
2. ^ "Civil servants and new state-federal relations". The Sun. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

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Malaysia articles

History|

* Timeline
* Prehistoric
* Portuguese Malacca
* Dutch Malacca
* British Malaya
* British Borneo
* Japanese occupation of Malaya / Borneo
* Malayan Union
* Federation of Malaya
* Malayan Emergency
* Malaysia Agreement
* Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
* Sarawak communist insurgency
* Singapore in Malaysia
* Second Malayan Emergency
* 13 May incident
* 1988 constitutional crisis
* 1997 Asian financial crisis
* 1MDB scandal
* 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis

Geography|

* Borders
* Cities, towns and villages
* Districts
* Divisions
* East Malaysia
* Environment
* climate change
* conservation
* environmental issues
* deforestation
* wildlife
* plants
* World Heritage Sites
* Hill stations
* Islands
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* Mountains
* National parks
* Peninsular Malaysia
* Rivers
* States
* Earthquakes
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Politics|

* Cabinet
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* Government
* King
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* Law
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Economy|

* Agriculture
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Society|

* Abortion
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Culture|

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States and federal territories of Malaysia

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

States|

* Johor
* Kedah
* Kelantan
* Malacca
* Negeri Sembilan
* Pahang
* Penang
* Perak
* Perlis
* Sabah
* Sarawak
* Selangor
* Terengganu

Federal Territories|

* Kuala Lumpur
* Labuan
* Putrajaya

Former states|

* Singapore

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