page_title: Perlis
section_title: Government
hierarchical_section_title: Perlis / Government
caption_attribution_description: English: Arau, Perlis, Malaysia Bahasa Melayu: Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
context_page_description: Perlis, also known by its honorific title Perlis Indera Kayangan, is the smallest state in Malaysia. It lies at the northern part of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has the Satun and Songkhla Provinces of Thailand on its northern border. It is bordered by the state of Kedah to the south. It was called Palit by the Siamese when it was under their influence. Perlis had a population of 227,025 as of 2010.
  The capital of Perlis is Kangar, and the royal capital is Arau. Another important town is Padang Besar, at the Malaysia–Thailand border and Kuala Perlis, the ferry town to Langkawi. The main port and ferry terminal is at the small village of Kuala Perlis, linking mostly to Langkawi Island. Another important lately developed area is Pauh Putra within subdistrict of Kurong Anai which houses the main campus of Malaysia University of Perlis and Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. Perlis has a famous snake farm and research centre at Sungai Batu Pahat. Among the main tourist attractions are Perlis State Park and Gua Kelam.
  Perlis currently has an island within its waters, Pulau Batu Layang near Perlis Power Plant, Kuala Sungai Bharu.
context_section_description: Perlis is ruled by the House of Jamalullail. Unlike other Malaysian monarchical states, in which the ruler is a "Sultan", the Perlis ruler is called the "Raja".
  Legislative power in the state is exercised by the Perlis State Legislative Assembly, a unicameral chamber in which all 15 seats are elected from single-member constituencies. After the 2018 state election, the Barisan Nasional coalition, led by the United Malays National Organisation, holds 10 of the assembly's 15 seats.
  Raja appoints Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) and an Executive Council (akin to a Cabinet). Generally, the chief minister is a member of the legislative assembly who can command a majority on the assembly's floor. The Raja's appointment powers were at the centre of a brief constitutional crisis in the state after the 2008 general election. The Raja sought to appoint a Barisan Nasional assemblyman, Md Isa Sabu, as chief Minister despite Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who led the national coalition, nominating the incumbent Shahidan Kassim to continue in office. The Raja prevailed, and swore in Md Isa, who proceeded to serve a full term as chief minister.
  The state elects three members of the federal House of Representatives, for the constituencies of Arau, Kangar and Padang Besar. After the 2018 general election, two seats are held by UMNO and one by the People's Justice Party (PKR) within the winning Pakatan Harapan coalition.
  The state also has two federal senators; like all other states, the senators are not directly elected but appointed by a vote of the state legislative assembly.
  Perlis, being the smallest state by area in Malaysia, is not divided into administrative districts. Nevertheless, it is still divided into several mukims (communes), namely:
  Abi
  Arau
  Beseri
  Chuping
  Jejawi
  Kaki Bukit
  Kayang
  Kechor
  Kuala Perlis
  Kurong Anai
  Kurong Batang
  Ngulang
  Oran
  Padang Pauh
  Paya
  Padang Siding
  Sanglang
  Sena
  Seriab
  Sungai Adam
  Titi Tinggi (Padang Besar)
  Utan Aji; and
  Wang Bintong
caption: Arau, the royal capital of Perlis.
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