# Prime Minister of Malaysia

The prime minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia; Jawi: ڤردان منتري مليسيا‎) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the prime minister as a member of Parliament (MP) who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs. The prime minister is usually the leader of the party winning the most seats in a general election.
After the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the chief minister of the Federation of Malaya, became the first prime minister of Malaysia.

## Appointment

According to the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint a prime minister to preside over the Cabinet. The prime minister is to be a member of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives), and who in his majesty's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House. This person must be a Malaysian citizen, but cannot have obtained their citizenship by means of naturalisation or registration. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint other ministers from either the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara (Senate) with the prime minister's advice.
The prime minister and his/her cabinet ministers must take and subscribe to the oath of office and allegiance as well as the oath of secrecy in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before they can exercise functions of office. The Cabinet is collectively accountable to the Parliament of Malaysia. The members of the Cabinet shall not hold any office of profit and engage in any trade, business or profession that will cause a conflict of interest. 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 his/her functions and powers.
In the case where a government cannot get its appropriation (budget) legislation passed by the House of Representatives, or when the House passes a vote of "no confidence" in the government, the prime minister is bound by convention to resign immediately. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's choice of replacement prime minister will be dictated by the circumstances. All other ministers shall continue to hold office by the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, unless if the appointment of any minister is revoked by his/her majesty upon the advice of the prime minister. Any minister may resign his/her office.
Following a resignation in other circumstances, defeat in an election, or the death of a prime minister, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would generally appoint as the new leader of the governing party or coalition as new Prime Minister.
Malaysia uses first-past-the-post-voting system, which means a party or coalition who gets 112 seats in lower house will lead the government.

## Powers

The power of the prime minister is subject to a number of limitations. Prime ministers removed as leader of his or her party, or whose government loses a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives, must advise a new election of the lower house or resign the office. The defeat of a supply bill (one that concerns the spending of money) or unable to pass important policy-related legislation is seen to require the resignation of the government or dissolution of Parliament, much like a non-confidence vote, since a government that cannot spend money is hamstrung, also called loss of supply.
The prime minister's party will normally have a majority in the House of Representatives and party discipline is exceptionally strong in Malaysian politics, so passage of the government's legislation through the House of Representatives is mostly a formality.
Under the Constitution, the prime minister's role includes advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on:
* the appointment of the federal ministers (full members of cabinet);
* the appointment of the federal deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries (non-full members of cabinet);
* the appointment of 44 out of 70 Senators in the Dewan Negara;
* the summoning and adjournment of sittings of the Dewan Rakyat;
* the appointment of judges of the superior courts (which are the High Courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court);
* the appointment of the attorney-general and the auditor-general; and
* the appointment of the chairmen and members of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, Election Commission, Police Force Commission, Education Service Commission, National Finance Council, and Armed Forces Council;
Under Article 39 of the Constitution, executive authority is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. However, Article 40(1) states that in most cases, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is bound to exercise his powers on the advice of the Cabinet or a minister acting under the Cabinet's general authority. Thus, in practice, actual governing authority is vested in the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

### Acting prime minister

From time to time, prime ministers are required to leave the country on business and a deputy is appointed to take their place during that time. In the days before jet aeroplanes, such absences could be for extended periods. However, the position can be fully decided by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the king of Malaysia when the position remains empty following the sudden resignation or death of the prime minister.

### Caretaker prime minister

Under Article 55(3) of Constitution of Malaysia, the lower house of Parliament, unless sooner dissolved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with his own discretion on the advice of the prime minister, shall continue for five years from the date of its first meeting. Article 55(4) of the Constitution permits a delay of 60 days in the holding of the general election from the date of dissolution and Parliament shall be summoned to meet on a date not later than 120 days from the date of dissolution. Conventionally, between the dissolution of one Parliament and the convening of the next, the prime minister and the cabinet remain in office in a caretaker capacity.

## List of prime ministers of Malaysia

Colour key (for political coalitions/parties):
Alliance Party (2) Barisan Nasional (6) Pakatan Harapan (2) Perikatan Nasional (1)
| # | Portrait | Prime Minister (Birth–Death) Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Mandate | Party | Party | Government | Monarch(s) |
| # | Portrait | Prime Minister (Birth–Death) Constituency | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Mandate | Party | Party | Government | Monarch(s) |
| 1 | | His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman تونکو عبد الرحمن‎ (1903–1990) MP for Kuala Kedah | 31 August 1957 | 22 September 1970 | 13 years, 23 days | 1955 | | Alliance (UMNO) | Rahman I | Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
| 1 | | His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman تونکو عبد الرحمن‎ (1903–1990) MP for Kuala Kedah | 31 August 1957 | 22 September 1970 | 13 years, 23 days | 1959 | | Alliance (UMNO) | Rahman II | Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
| 1 | | His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman تونکو عبد الرحمن‎ (1903–1990) MP for Kuala Kedah | 31 August 1957 | 22 September 1970 | 13 years, 23 days | 1964 | | Alliance (UMNO) | Rahman III | Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
| 1 | | His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman تونکو عبد الرحمن‎ (1903–1990) MP for Kuala Kedah | 31 August 1957 | 22 September 1970 | 13 years, 23 days | 1969 | | Alliance (UMNO) | Rahman IV | Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim |
| 2 | | Tun Haji Abdul Razak Hussein عبد الرزاق حسين‎ (1922–1976) MP for Pekan | 22 September 1970 | 14 January 1976 | 5 years, 115 days | – | | Alliance (UMNO) | Razak I | Abdul Halim Yahya Petra |
| 2 | | Tun Haji Abdul Razak Hussein عبد الرزاق حسين‎ (1922–1976) MP for Pekan | 22 September 1970 | 14 January 1976 | 5 years, 115 days | 1974 | | BN (UMNO) | Razak II | Abdul Halim Yahya Petra |
| 3 | | Tun Hussein Onn حسين عون‎ (1922–1990) MP for Sri Gading | 15 January 1976 | 16 July 1981 | 5 years, 183 days | – | | BN (UMNO) | Hussein I | Yahya Petra Ahmad Shah |
| 3 | | Tun Hussein Onn حسين عون‎ (1922–1990) MP for Sri Gading | 15 January 1976 | 16 July 1981 | 5 years, 183 days | 1978 | | BN (UMNO) | Hussein II | Yahya Petra Ahmad Shah |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | — | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir I | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | 1982 | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir II | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | 1986 | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir III | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | 1990 | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir IV | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | 1995 | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir V | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 4 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Kubang Pasu | 16 July 1981 | 30 October 2003 | 22 years, 107 days | 1999 | | BN (UMNO) | Mahathir VI | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| 5 | | Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi عبد الله أحمد بدوي‎ (b.1939) MP for Kepala Batas | 31 October 2003 | 3 April 2009 | 5 years, 155 days | — | | BN (UMNO) | Abdullah I | Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| 5 | | Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi عبد الله أحمد بدوي‎ (b.1939) MP for Kepala Batas | 31 October 2003 | 3 April 2009 | 5 years, 155 days | 2004 | | BN (UMNO) | Abdullah II | Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| 5 | | Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi عبد الله أحمد بدوي‎ (b.1939) MP for Kepala Batas | 31 October 2003 | 3 April 2009 | 5 years, 155 days | 2008 | | BN (UMNO) | Abdullah III | Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin |
| 6 | | Dato' Sri Haji Mohd. Najib Abdul Razak نجيب رزاق‎ (b.1953) MP for Pekan | 3 April 2009 | 9 May 2018 | 9 years, 37 days | — | | BN (UMNO) | Najib I | Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim Muhammad V |
| 6 | | Dato' Sri Haji Mohd. Najib Abdul Razak نجيب رزاق‎ (b.1953) MP for Pekan | 3 April 2009 | 9 May 2018 | 9 years, 37 days | 2013 | | BN (UMNO) | Najib II | Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim Muhammad V |
| 7 | | Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (b.1925) MP for Langkawi | 10 May 2018 | 24 February 2020 | 1 year, 291 days | 2018 | | PH (BERSATU) | Mahathir VII | Muhammad V Abdullah |
| During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020) | Abdullah |
| 8 | | Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Mohd. Yassin محيي الدين ياسين‎ (b.1947) MP for Pagoh | 1 March 2020 | 16 August 2021 | 1 year, 169 days | — | | PN (BERSATU) | Muhyiddin | Abdullah |
| Abdullah ||||||||||
| 9 | | Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob إسماعيل صبري يعقوب‎ (b.1960) MP for Bera | 21 August 2021 | 24 November 2022 | 1 year, 96 days | — | | BN (UMNO) | Ismail Sabri | Abdullah |
| 10 | | Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim أنوار إبراهيم‎‎ (b.1947) MP for Tambun | 24 November 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 109 days | (2022) | | PH (PKR) | Anwar | Abdullah Ibrahim Iskandar |