General Features A general overview of the electoral system used in this country. Instituciones electivasLower House Fundamentals Name of Institution: Dewan Rakyat. Congress Type of Institution: Lower House of Bicameral Parliament Frequency of elections: Every 5 years Legal & Administrative issues Legal Framework for elections Constitution: Constitution 1957. Arts. 114-120 Electoral Legislation: Electoral Law 1958 Electoral management bodies: Body in charge of election process: Election Comission of Malaysia Body responsible for definitive results:Election Comission of Malaysia Body responsible for appeals & complaints:Election Comission of Malaysia Body in charge of accepting candidates:Election Comission of Malaysia Vacancies: Procedure for filling seats in case of vacancies: new elections in the electoral district. The vote Voting system: Majority Balloting procedure: Marked ballot Candidates & Districts Number of elected officials & mode of designation: 222 Mode of candidacy: Lists (closed) Constituencies: 222. One member is selected from each electoral district. District magnitude: 1 Electoral campaign: Length of campaign: 2008 legislative elections 13 days Eligibility Entitlement to vote - voter eligibility Requirements: to be registered in the electoral roll, malaysian and above 21 years old Entitlement to stand - candidate eligibility Requirements: be a Malaysian citizen. be not less than 21 years old,be of sound mind, not be an undischarged bankrupt and not at the same time be a member of both Houses Last elections: 2013. Legislative elections Upper House Fundamentals Name of Institution: Dewan Negara. Senate Type of Institution: Upper House of Bicameral Parliament Frequency of elections: Every 3 years Legal & Administrative issues There are no elections for Senate. The Senate is made up of 70 members. 44 members are appointed by the monarch(on the advice of prime minister) to serve 3-year terms and 26 members are elected by the state legislatures to serve 3-year terms(Two members each State). The life of the Senate is not affected by the dissolution of the Parliament. Eligibility Entitlement to vote - voter eligibility N/A Entitlement to stand - candidate eligibility be a Malaysian citizen be not less than 30 years old be of sound mind not be an undischarged bankrupt Chief of state Fundamentals Name of Institution: Yang di-Pertuan Agong . King of Malaysia Type of Institution: Chief of State Frequency of elections: Every 5 years. The king in Malaysia is selected only by the nine rulers(Sultans of nine States). The power to elect and appoint the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is vested with the Conference of Rulers(Nine sultans). The next King is selected by the Conference of Rulers through a rotation system originally based on seniority. Legal & Administrative issues Legal Framework for elections Constitution Vacancies: in case of vacancy a new king is selected by the nine rulers (Sultans of nine States). The vote Voting system: Majority Balloting procedure: Nine sultans form the Conferance of rulers and they select the new King. The new king needs 5 votes to be elected. The selections is made via a secret ballot among its members. Eligibility Entitlement to vote - voter eligibility Requirements: Only the royal rulers may vote Entitlement to stand - candidate eligibility Requirements: Only a royal ruler may be elected. Disqualifications: be a minor, the sultan has declared that he does not want to be elected or Conference of Rulers by a secret ballot resolves that the ruler is unsuitable, by reason of infirmity of mind, body or for any other cause, to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Last elections: 2011
