Politics of Malaysia

Overview

Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy, which is loosely based on the British Westminster model.  The head of state is the King of Malaysia (aka Paramount Ruler or Yang di-Pertuan Agong), who is elected from the nine Sultans of the Malay States.  He is a constitutional monarch, and is elected by the Conference of Rulers for a period of five years.  He is also the head of the Islamic faith in this medical tourism hub.  

The King is advised by a Council of Ministers that is headed by the Prime Minister.  The Council of Ministers wields all executive power in the country, and its members are drawn from elected members of the Parliament.  

Parliament

Malaysia has a bicameral Parliament that consists of two houses –the Senate (the Dewan Negara) and the House of Representatives (the Dewan Rakyat).  The Senate has 70 members, 26 of whom are elected by the state assemblies, and the remaining appointed by the King.  These Senate members are elected for a period of three years. The Dewan Rakyat consists of 219 members who are elected by popular vote for a period of five years.  The mandate for Malaysia’s parliament is five years.  

State Assemblies

There are 13 states in all, and three federal territories in this medical tourism center, one of which is Kuala Lumpur. Nine of these states are ruled by hereditary rulers or sultans who elect the King of Malaysia, while the remaining four are headed by appointed governors.  The state governments are headed by a chief minister, who advises the ruler of the state.  There are two sources of law in this medical tourism destination – the Constitution and Islamic law which is left to the individual states to interpret as they see fit.

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