Government of Malaysia - wikipedia Government of Malaysia federal government of Malaysia Federal Government of Malaysia Kerajaan Persekutuan Malaysia Formation 16 September 1963 ; 55 years ago ( 1963 - 09 - 16 ) Country Malaysia Website malaysia.gov.my Legislative branch Legislature Parliament Meeting place Houses of Parliament Executive branch Leader Prime Minister Appointer Yang di - Pertuan Agong Headquarters Perdana Putra, Putrajaya Main organ Cabinet Judicial branch Court Federal Court Seat Palace of Justice Government of Malaysia officially the Federal Government of Malaysia ( Malay : Kerajaan Persekutuan Malaysia ) based in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and the federal executive based in Putrajaya. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states operating within a constitutional monarchy under the Westminster parliamentary system and is categorised as a representative democracy. The federal government of Malaysia adheres to and is created by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of the land. The federal government adopts the principle of separation of powers under Article 127 of the Federal Constitution, and has three branches : executive, legislature and judiciary. The state governments in Malaysia also have their respective executive and legislative bodies. The judicial system in Malaysia is a federalised court system operating uniformly throughout the country. Contents 1 Federal government 1.1 Legislature 1.2 Executive 1.3 Judiciary 2 Head of government 3 State governments 4 Local governments 5 Military, police and other governmental bodies 6 Legal system 7 Elections 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Federal government See also : Federalism in Malaysia The federal or central government is the ultimate authority in Malaysia having its base in Putrajaya. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia who is also known as the head of government. Legislature Main article : Parliament of Malaysia The bicameral parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat ( literally the `` Chamber of the People '' ) and the upper house, the Senate or Dewan Negara ( literally the `` Chamber of the Nation '' ). All seventy Senate members sit for three - year terms ( to a maximum of two terms ) ; twenty - six are elected by the thirteen state assemblies, and forty - four are appointed by the king based on the advice of the Prime Minister. The 222 members of the Dewan Rakyat are elected from single - member districts by universal adult suffrage. The parliament follows a multi-party system and the governing body is elected through a first - past - the - post system. Parliament has a maximum mandate of five years by law. The king may dissolve parliament at any time and usually does so upon the advice of the Prime Minister. Executive Main article : Cabinet of Malaysia While the Monarch remains the Head of State real executive power is vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister as Head of Government ; the Malaysian constitution stipulates that the prime minister must be a member of the Lower House of parliament who, in the opinion of the Yang di - Pertuan Agong ( YDPA ), commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from among members of both houses of Parliament and is responsible to that body. The Executive branch of the government consists of the Prime Minister as the head of the government, followed by the various ministers of the Cabinet. Judiciary Main article : Judiciary of Malaysia The highest court in the judicial system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal, and two High Courts, one for Peninsular Malaysia, and one for East Malaysia. The subordinate courts in each of these jurisdictions include Sessions Courts, Magistrates ' Courts, and Courts for Children. Malaysia also has a Special Court to hear cases brought by or against all Royalty. Head of government Main article : Prime Minister of Malaysia The Prime Minister of Malaysia ( Malay : Perdana Menteri Malaysia ) is the indirectly elected head of government ( executive ) of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di - Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM 's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives ( Dewan Rakyat ), the elected lower house of Parliament. He heads the Cabinet, whose members are appointed by the Yang di - Pertuan Agong advice of the prime minister. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament. The Prime Minister 's Department ( sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister 's Office ) is the body and ministry in which the Prime Minister exercises its functions and powers. State governments Main articles : State governments of Malaysia and State legislative assemblies of Malaysia Each state governments in Malaysia is created by the respective state constitutions. Each state has a unicameral state legislative chamber ( Malay : Dewan Undangan Negeri ) whose members are elected from single - member constituencies. State governments are led by Chief Ministers ( Menteri Besar in Malay states or Ketua Menteri in states without hereditary rulers ), who are state assembly members from the majority party in the Dewan Undangan Negeri. They advise their respective sultans or governors. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is required to be a Malay, appointed by the Sultan upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Local governments Main article : Local government in Malaysia The local government or local authority ( Malay : kerajaan tempatan or pihak berkuasa tempatan ( PBT ) ) is the lowest level in the system of government in Malaysia -- after federal and state. It has the power to collect taxes ( in the form of assessment tax ), to create laws and rules ( in the form of by - laws ) and to grant licenses and permits for any trade in its area of jurisdiction, in addition to providing basic amenities, collecting and managing waste and garbage as well as planning and developing the area under its jurisdiction. Local authorities in Malaysia are generally under the exclusive purview of the state governments and headed by a civil servant with the title Yang Di - Pertua ( President ). Local government areas and the boundaries is usually consistent with district boundaries but there are some places where the boundaries are not consistent and may overlap with adjoining districts especially in urbanised areas. Unlike the federal and state governments, the local governments in Malaysia are not elected but appointed by the state government after local council elections were suspended by the federal government in 1965. Military, Police and other governmental bodies The Malaysian Armed Forces are the military body of Malaysia and the Royal Malaysian Police are in charge of law enforcement. Legal system Main article : Law of Malaysia The law of Malaysia is mainly based on the common law legal system. This was a direct result of the colonisation of Malaya, Sarawak, and North Borneo by Britain between the early 19th century to 1960s. The supreme law of the land -- the Constitution of Malaysia -- sets out the legal framework and rights of Malaysian citizens. Federal laws enacted by the Parliament of Malaysia apply throughout the country. There are also state laws enacted by the State Legislative Assemblies which applies in the particular state. The constitution of Malaysia also provides for a unique dual justice system -- the secular laws ( criminal and civil ) and sharia laws. Articles 73 to 79 of the Federal Constitution specifies the subject in which the federal and state government may legislate. Parliament has the exclusive power to make laws over matters falling under the Federal List ( such as citizenship, defence, internal security, civil and criminal law, finance, trade, commerce and industry, education, labour, and tourism ) whereas each State, through its Legislative Assembly, has legislative power over matters under the State List ( such as land, local government, Syariah law and Syariah courts, State holidays and State public works ). Parliament and State legislatures share the power to make laws over matters under the Concurrent List ( such as water supplies and housing ) but Article 75 provides that in the event of conflict, Federal law will prevail over State law. Elections Main article : Elections in Malaysia Elections in Malaysia exist at two levels : national level and state level. National level elections are those for membership in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state level elections are for membership in the various State Legislative Assemblies. The head of the executive branch, the Prime Minister, is indirectly elected. See also Politics of Malaysia Cabinet of Malaysia Prime Minister of Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia List of federal agencies in Malaysia References Jump up ^ `` Formation of Malaysia 16 September 1963 ''. National Archives of Malaysia. Retrieved 28 August 2018. Jump up ^ Jeong Chun Hai @ Ibrahim, & Nor Fadzlina Nawi. ( 2012 ). Principles of Public Administration : Malaysian Perspectives. Kuala Lumpur : Pearson Publishers. ISBN 978 - 967 - 349 - 233 - 6 Jump up ^ `` About the Malaysian Government ''. Government of Malaysia. 28 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Jump up ^ Constitution of Malaysia : Article 44 ^ Jump up to : Constitution of Malaysia : Article 45 ^ Jump up to : `` Malaysia ''. State.gov. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010. Jump up ^ Constitution of Malaysia : Article 43 - 2 Jump up ^ Constitution of Malaysia : Article 43 - 1 External links Government of Malaysia portal Federal Government of Malaysia Malaysian Federal Cabinet Executive branch Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Federal Ministries Prime Minister 's Department Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Communications and Multimedia Defence Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Economic Affairs Education Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Entrepreneur Development Finance Foreign Affairs Health Home Affairs Housing and Local Government Human Resources International Trade and Industry Primary Industries Rural Development Territories Tourism, Arts and Culture Transport Water, Land and Natural Resources Women, Family and Community Development Works Youth and Sports Commissions Energy Commission Public Service Commission Securities Commission Election Commission Land Public Transport Commission Companies Commission Departments Audit Broadcasting Immigration Skill Development Wildlife and National Parks Orang Asli Affairs Public Works Road Transport Fire and Rescue Civil Defence Film Prison Other agencies Federal Agricultural and Marketing Authority ( FAMA ) Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute Urban Development Authority of Malaysia Highway Authority National Space Agency Malaysian Palm Oil Board Halal Industry Development Corporation ( HDC ) Federal Land Development Authority Bernama RELA Corps Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency National Institute of Public Administration ( INTAN ) Industrial Development Authority Law enforcement Royal Malaysian Customs Royal Malaysia Police Tourist Police Anti-Corruption Commission National Security Council Central bank Bank Negara Malaysia Government of Malaysia Ministries and departments Malaysia articles History Timeline Prehistoric Portuguese Malacca Dutch Malacca British Malaya Straits Settlements Federated Malay States Unfederated Malay States British Borneo Kingdom of Sarawak Crown Colony of Labuan North Borneo Japanese occupation of Malaya / Borneo British Military Administration ( Malaya / Borneo ) Malayan Union Federation of Malaya Independence Malayan Emergency Crown Colony of Singapore Self - government Crown Colony of Sarawak Self - government Crown Colony of North Borneo Self - government Malaysia Agreement 1962 Singapore referendum Cobbold Commission 18 - point agreement 20 - point agreement Indonesia -- Malaysia confrontation Sarawak Communist Insurgency Proclamation Malaysia Day PAP -- UMNO relations 1964 race riots Singapore in Malaysia Second Malayan Emergency 13 May Incident 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis 1997 Asian financial crisis Geography Cities, towns and villages Districts Divisions East Malaysia Environment Fauna Flora World Heritage Sites Islands Lakes Mountains National parks Peninsular Malaysia Rivers States Politics Cabinet Constitution Elections Foreign relations Government Human rights Judiciary Law Law enforcement Military Monarchies Parliament Political parties Prime Minister State legislative assemblies Head of state Economy Agriculture Banks Central bank Energy Federal budget Ringgit ( currency ) States by GDP Science and technology Stock exchange Telecommunications Tourism Transport Unions Society Crime Demographics Malaysians Education Post-secondary Universities Ethnic groups Health Income disparity Languages Poverty Religion Water supply and sanitation Women International rankings Culture Architecture Cinema Cuisine Folklore Mythology Literature Malay lordship Media Music Names Public holidays Sport Symbols Animal Anthem Emblem Flag Flower Pledge Outline Index Book Category Portal Governments of Asia Sovereign states Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus East Timor ( Timor - Leste ) Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen States with limited recognition Abkhazia Artsakh Northern Cyprus Palestine South Ossetia Taiwan Dependencies and other territories British Indian Ocean Territory Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Hong Kong Macau Book Category Asia portal Malaysia portal Politics portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Government_of_Malaysia&oldid=863069588 '' Categories : Government of Malaysia Asian governments Hidden categories : Articles with short description EngvarB from July 2014 Use dmy dates from July 2014 Articles containing Malay - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages فارسی Français ქართული Bahasa Melayu Русский 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 8 October 2018, at 14 : 33 ( UTC ). 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Question: what kind of government is practiced by malaysia
Answer: a federation of 13 states