1.
Malay language
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Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It has a status in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia. As the Bahasa Kebangsaan or Bahasa Nasional of several states, Standard Malay has various official names, in Singapore and Brunei it is called Bahasa Melayu, in Malaysia, Bahasa Malaysia, and in Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia and is designated the Bahasa Persatuan/Pemersatu. However, in areas of central to southern Sumatra where the language is indigenous, Indonesians refer to it as Bahasa Melayu and consider it one of their regional languages. There are also several Malay trade and creole languages which are based on a lingua franca derived from Classical Malay, as well as Macassar Malay, Malay historical linguists agree on the likelihood of the Malay homeland being in western Borneo stretching to the Bruneian coast. A form known as Proto-Malay language was spoken in Borneo at least by 1000 BCE and was, it has been argued, the ancestral language of all subsequent Malayan languages. The history of the Malay language can be divided into five periods, Old Malay, the Transitional Period, the Malacca Period, Late Modern Malay and it is not clear that Old Malay was actually the ancestor of Classical Malay, but this is thought to be quite possible. Old Malay was influenced by Sanskrit literary language of Classical India, Sanskrit loanwords can be found in Old Malay vocabulary. Batenburg on November 29,1920 at Kedukan Bukit, South Sumatra, on the banks of the Tatang and it is a small stone of 45 by 80 centimetres. The earliest surviving manuscript in Malay is the Tanjong Tanah Law in post-Pallava letters and this 14th-century pre-Islamic legal text produced in the Adityawarman era of Dharmasraya, a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that arose after the end of Srivijayan rule in Sumatra. The laws were for the Minangkabau people, who still live in the highlands of Sumatra. The Malay language came into use as the lingua franca of the Malacca Sultanate. During this period, the Malay language developed rapidly under the influence of Islamic literature, the development changed the nature of the language with massive infusion of Arabic, Malayalam and Sanskrit vocabularies, called Classical Malay. Under the Sultanate of Malacca the language evolved into a form recognisable to speakers of modern Malay, however, there is no connection between Malaccan Malay as used on Riau and the Riau vernacular. One of the oldest surviving letters written in Malay is a letter from Sultan Abu Hayat of Ternate, Maluku Islands in present-day Indonesia, the letter is addressed to the king of Portugal, following contact with Portuguese explorer Francisco Serrão. The letters show sign of non-native usage, the Ternateans used the unrelated Ternate language, Malay was used solely as a lingua franca for inter-ethnic communications. Malay is a member of the Austronesian family of languages, which includes languages from Southeast Asia, malagasy, a geographic outlier spoken in Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is also a member of this language family. Although each language of the family is mutually unintelligible, their similarities are rather striking, many roots have come virtually unchanged from their common ancestor, Proto-Austronesian language
2.
Jawi script
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Jawi is an Arabic alphabet for writing the Malay language, Acehnese, Banjarese, Minangkabau, Tausūg and several other languages in Southeast Asia. Jawi is one of the two scripts in Brunei, used as an alternative script in Malaysia and Malay dominated areas in Indonesia. It can be typed with the Jawi keyboard, day-to-day usage of Jawi is maintained in more conservative Malay-populated areas such as Kelantan in Malaysia and Pattani. Jawi is still used on road and building signs, and taught in primary and religious schools in Brunei. The word Jawi is an adjective for the Arabic noun Jawah, both terms may have originated from the term Javadwipa, the ancient name for Java. Prior to the onset of the Islamisation, when Hindu-Buddhist influences were still firmly established in the region and this is evidenced from the discovery of several stone inscriptions in Old Malay, notably the Kedukan Bukit Inscription and Talang Tuwo inscription. The spread of Islam in Southeast Asia and the subsequent introduction of Arabic writing system began with the arrival of Muslim merchants in the region since the seventh century. The conversion of King Phra Ong Mahawangsa of Kedah in 1136, at the early stage of Islamisation, the Arabic script was taught to the people who had newly embraced Islam in the form of religious practices, such as the recitation of Quran as well as salat. Many Arabic characters are never used as they are not pronounced in Malay language and this was the same for the acceptance of Arabic writing in Turkey, Persia and India which had taken place earlier and thus, the Jawi script was then deemed as the writing of the Muslims. The inscription on the stone contains a proclamation issued by the Sri Paduka Tuan of Terengganu, urging his subjects to extend and uphold Islam and this has attested the strong observance of the Muslim faith in the early 14th century Terengganu specifically and the Malay world as a whole. The development of Jawi script was different from that of Pallava writing which was restricted to the nobility. The Jawi script was embraced by the entire Muslim community regardless of class, with the increased intensity in the appreciation of Islam, scriptures originally written in Arabic were translated in Malay and written in the Jawi script. Additionally local religious scholars later began to elucidate the Islamic teachings in the forms of original writings, moreover, there were also individuals of the community who used Jawi for the writing of literature which previously existed and spread orally. With this inclusion of literature, Malay literature took on a more sophisticated form. This was believed to have taken place from the 15th century, other forms of Arabic-based scripts existed in the region, notably the Pegon alphabet of Javanese language in Java and the Serang alphabet of Bugis language in South Sulawesi. Both writing systems applied extensively the Arabic diacritics and added several alphabets other than Jawi alphabets to suit the languages, due to their fairly limited usage, the spelling system of both scripts did not undergo similar advance developments and modifications as experienced by Jawi script. The script became prominent with the spread of Islam, as the Malays found that the earlier Pallava script was totally unsuited as a vehicle to relay religious concepts. The Malays held the script in high esteem as it is the gateway to understanding Islam and its Holy Book, the use of jawi script was a key factor driving the emergence of Malay as the lingua franca of the region, alongside the spread of Islam
3.
Keeper of the Rulers' Seal
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The Keeper of the Rulers Seal is the officer in Malaysia charged with custody and use of the Rulers Seal of Malaysia on behalf of the Conference of Rulers. The Rulers Seal is the symbol of the authority of the royal institutions in Malaysia, namely the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Keeper of the Rulers Seal is the secretary to the Conference of Rulers and he is appointed by the Conference as specified in the Constitution of Malaysia. His most publicly visible role is to announce the beginning of fasting during the month of Ramadan, the office of the Keeper of the Rulers Seal was established in preparation for the first meeting of the Conference of Rulers on February 18,1948. Prior to independence, the Keeper of the Rulers Seal was a government position. This changed after independence in 1957, when all the rulers became constitutional monarchs under the federal and his office is responsible for arranging the transportation of the rulers and governors from their respective states to the meeting venue. During special meetings of the Conference to elect a new Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he is responsible for distributing and then counting the ballot papers, which are kept secret. The second highest position in the Office of the Keeper of the Rulers Seal is the Assistant Secretary of the Conference of Rulers, listed below are Keepers of the Rulers Seal from 1948 to present, Keeper of the Seals Pejabat Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-raja
4.
Malaysia
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Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government, with a population of over 30 million, Malaysia is the 44th most populous country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai, is in Malaysia, located in the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries on earth, with large numbers of endemic species. Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, the first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946, Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a role in politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while allowing freedom of religion for non-Muslims, the government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and he is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, since its independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with its GDP growing at an average of 6. 5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce. Today, Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third largest in Southeast Asia, the name Malaysia is a combination of the word Malay and the Latin-Greek suffix -sia/-σία. The word melayu in Malay may derive from the Tamil words malai and ur meaning mountain and city, land, malayadvipa was the word used by ancient Indian traders when referring to the Malay Peninsula. Whether or not it originated from these roots, the word melayu or mlayu may have used in early Malay/Javanese to mean to steadily accelerate or run. This term was applied to describe the current of the river Melayu in Sumatra. The name was adopted by the Melayu Kingdom that existed in the seventh century on Sumatra
5.
Politics of Malaysia
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Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state governments. Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament and the 13 state assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, though the executive maintains a level of influence in the appointment of judges to the courts. The Constitution of Malaysia is codified and the system of government is based on the Westminster system, whereas, the Parliament consists of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat. Malaysia has had a multi-party system since the first direct election of the Federal Legislative Council of the Malaya in 1955 on a first-past-the-post basis, the ruling party since then had always been the Alliance Party coalition and from 1973 onwards, its successor, the Barisan Nasional coalition. The Barisan Nasional coalition currently consists of the United Malays National Organisation, Malaysian Chinese Association, the opposition are made up of the newly formed pact, the Coalition of Hope, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, the Socialist Party of Malaysia and other smaller parties. Although Malaysian politics has been stable, critics allege that the government, ruling party. However, since the 8 March 2008 General Election, the coverage on the countrys politics has noticeably increased. Early organised political movements in Malaysia were organised along regional and ethnic groups and were not political parties in the modern sense and these in turn were primarily influenced by the Egyptian Islamic reform magazine, al-Manar published in Cairo by Rashid Rida from 1898 to 1936. While these publications were concerned with the Islamic religion, it also touched extensively on the social, political. One of the first such movements was the New Hope Society that was established in Johor Bahru in 1916, the Sultan Idris Training College for Malay teachers in Tanjung Malim was fertile ground for the exchange of ideas. This magazine allowed for the discussion of larger issues as well political issues. Eunos himself was a Justice of Peace, a member of the Muslim Advisory Board set up by the administration during World War I. In his capacity as the chairman of the KM, he became the first Malay member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements, one of the first issues championed by the KM was the appeal for land to be set aside for a Malay settlement. The appeal was granted and a sum of $700,000 was set aside for the KM to purchase and this settlement has evolved and is now part of the Eunos neighbourhood in Singapore. The KM also became the catalyst for the establishment of similar organisations in the states of the British Malaya such as the Penang Malay Association. People associated with the KM included the first President of Singapore, the KM survived World War II and entered into a political coalition with the United Malays National Organisation and the Malayan Chinese Association to form the Singapore Alliance Party. It however eventually faded away with the defeats of the Alliance in the 1955 legislative elections in Singapore
6.
Constitution of Malaysia
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The Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force in 1957, is the supreme law of Malaysia. The Federation was initially called the Federation of Malaya and it adopted its present name, Malaysia, the Constitution establishes the Federation as a constitutional monarchy having the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Head of State whose roles are largely ceremonial. Reid Commission, The conference proposed the appointment of a commission to devise a constitution for a fully self-governing and this proposal was accepted by Queen Elizabeth II and the Malay Rulers. The report of the Commission was completed on 11 February 1957, Constitution, The Constitution came into force on 27 August 1957 but formal independence was only achieved on 31 August. The Constitution, in its current form, consists of 15 Parts containing 230 articles and 13 schedules, the following is a list of the schedules to the Constitution. Some of these liberties and rights are subject to limitations and exceptions, Article 5 enshrines a number of basic fundamental human rights, no person may be deprived of life or personal liberty except in accordance with law. A person who is unlawfully detained may be released by the High Court, a person has the right to be informed of the reasons of his arrest and to be legally represented by a lawyer of his choice. A person may not be arrested for more than 24 hours without a magistrates permission, Article 6 provides that no person may be held in slavery. All forms of forced labour are prohibited, but federal law, such as the National Service Act 1952 and it is expressly provided that work incidental to serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court of law is not forced labour. • No person shall suffer greater punishment for an offence than was prescribed by law at the time it was committed. • A person who has been acquitted or convicted of an offence not be tried again for the same offence except where a retrial is ordered by a court. Article 8 by clause provides that all persons are equal before the law and this Article protects Malaysian citizens against being banished from the country. Article 10 is a key provision of Part II of the Constitution, several acts of law regulate the freedoms granted by Article 10, such as the Official Secrets Act, which makes it a crime to disseminate information classified as an official secret. The Police has extensive powers under the Act to maintain order in proclaimed areas. These include the power to close roads, erect barriers, impose curfews, another law which previously curtailed the freedoms of Article 10 is the Police Act 1967, which criminalised the gathering of three or more people in a public place without a licence. However the relevant sections of the Police Act dealing with such gatherings have been repealed by the Police Act 2012, the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which came into operation on the same day, replaced the Police Act as the principal legislation dealing with public gatherings. Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 The Peaceful Assembly Act gives citizens the right to organise, under the law, citizens are allowed to hold assemblies, which includes processions, upon giving 10 days notice to the police. However, street protests, which consist of mass marches or rallies, are not permitted
7.
Law of Malaysia
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The law of Malaysia is mainly based on the common law legal system. This was a result of the colonisation of Malaya, Sarawak. The supreme law of the land—the Constitution of Malaysia—sets out the legal framework, 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 and sharia laws. Adat provided Malay law before colonization, prior to the independence in 1957, most of the laws of United Kingdom were imported and either made into local legislation or simply applied as case laws. Malaysian law is based on other jurisdictions namely Australia and India. The criminal law in Malaysia—the Criminal Procedure Code—was based on the Indian criminal code, similarly, the Contracts Act is based on the Indian model. Malaysian land law is based on the Australian Torrens system, the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It provides the framework for the laws, legislation, courts. It also defines the government and monarch, and their powers, the dual system of law is provided in Article 121 of the Constitution of Malaysia. Article 3 also provides that Islamic law is a state law matter with the exception for the Federal Territories of Malaysia, Islamic law refers to sharia law, and in Malaysia it is known and spelled as syariah. The court is known as the Syariah Court, looking at the Malaysian legal system as a whole, sharia law plays a relatively small role in defining the laws on the country. With regards to law, the Syariah courts has jurisdiction in personal law matters, for example marriage, inheritance. In some states there are sharia criminal laws, for there is the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 1993. Their jurisdiction is limited to imposing fines for an amount not more than RM5000. In August 2007, the then Chief Justice of Malaysia proposed to replace the current common law application in Malaysia with sharia law, complications have arisen with regard to the dual justice system, for example with regard to freedom of religion. Article 11 of the Constitution provides that Every person has the right to profess, however, in the case of Lina Joy—a Malay who converted to Christianity—the Federal Court of Malaysia refused to allow her to change her religion indicated in her identity card. The judges held that they had no jurisdiction on the matter—that it was a matter of the Shariah Court, Federal laws are made by legislators sitting in the Parliament of Malaysia and applies nationwide
8.
Social contract (Malaysia)
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The social contract in Malaysia refers to the agreement made by the countrys founding fathers in the Constitution. The term has also used occasionally to refer to other portions of the Constitution. Such criticisms have met opposition from the Malay media and the United Malays National Organisation. Many Malays, typically from UMNO, have used the contract to defend the principle of Ketuanan Melayu. On 22 October 2010, Malaysian exiled popular blogger RPK revealed page by page of the 33-page document which he retrieved from the library in England. RPK claimed that the Malaysian government has since distorted the content of Lord Reids report into what is called the Social Contract of Malaysia. The Constitution does not explicitly refer to a contract. With the establishment of Malaysia, the special status was extended to include the indigenous communities of Sabah. The Constitution also included elements of Malay tradition as part of the Malaysian national identity, the Malay rulers were preserved, with the head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, drawn from their ranks. Islam would be the religion, and the Malay language would be the national language. These provisions, along with the privileges accorded by Article 153 of the Constitution, made up one half of the bargain. And that is not me being argumentative, its the Constitution and you wont find Malay rights in the supreme law of our land, instead, you will find terms such as special position of Malays. The difference is more than semantics, a privilege on the other hand is a benefit, presumably given to those who need it. Some suggest that this bias towards Malays in education and politics is, in part, the Indian Malaysians, as with the Indian Singaporeans, can make a case for being those that lose out the most, although this may be disputed. The government did roll back the system for entry to public universities in 2003. Although in theory non-Bumiputras may enter the stream, and Bumiputras may sit for the STPM. Meritocracy was also criticised by some quarters in UMNO as being discriminatory, as it caused the rural and less-prepared Malays to fall behind in university entrance rates. Due to the 13 May Incident, after which a state of emergency was declared, however,1972, in recent years, some have sought to provide Malay citizens with more political rights as per the ketuanan Melayu philosophy
9.
Monarchies of Malaysia
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The monarchies of Malaysia refer to the constitutional monarchy system as practised in Malaysia. The political system of Malaysia is based on the Westminster parliamentary system with the features of a federation, nine of the states of Malaysia are constitutionally headed by traditional Malay rulers. The nine states are referred to as the Malay States. State constitutions limit eligibility for the thrones to male Malay Muslim of royal descent, seven are hereditary monarchies based on agnatic primogeniture, they are Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis, Pahang, Selangor and Terengganu. In Perak, the throne rotates among three branches of the royal family based on agnatic seniority. One state, Negeri Sembilan, is a monarchy, the ruler is elected from male members of the royal family by hereditary chiefs. All rulers except those of Perlis and Negeri Sembilan use the title Sultan, the ruler of Perlis is styled Raja, while the ruler of Negeri Sembilan is known as Yang Di Pertuan Besar. As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected among the rulers, Malaysia as a whole is also an elective monarchy, each of the nine rulers serves as the head of state of his own state, as well as the head of the religion of Islam in his state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of Islam in his own state, the four states without rulers, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is required to delegate all his state powers to a regent, except for the role of head of Islam. A unique feature of the monarchy in Malaysia is the Conference of Rulers, consisting of the nine rulers. The Conference convenes triannually to discuss issues related to state. The most important role of the Conference is to elect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong every five years or when a vacancy occurs, only the rulers participate in the election of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as well as discussions related to rulers privileges and religious observances. Historically, various Malay kingdoms flourished on the Malay peninsula, the earliest kingdoms were influenced by Hindu culture, the most notable being Langkasuka in present-day Kedah. In the 15th century, the Malacca Sultanate became the dominant power on the peninsula, the Malacca Sultanate was the first Malay Muslim state based on the peninsula that was also a real regional maritime power. The Sultanate of Johor emerged as the dominant power on the peninsula, the vast territory of Johor led to some areas gaining autonomy, which gradually developed into independent states. In the 19th century, as infighting among the Malay aristocracy threatened British economic interests in the region. The British concluded treaties with some Malay states, installing “residents” as advisors to the rulers and these residents held power in everything except in religion affairs and Malay customs
10.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
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The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence from the United Kingdom, Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with an elected monarch as head of state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the few elected monarchs in the world and his queen consort is called Raja Permaisuri Agong. The couple are styled in English as His Majesty and Her Majesty, in Malaysias constitutional monarchy, Yang di-Pertuan Agong has extensive powers within the constitution. The constitution specifies that the power of the Federal government is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is exercised by him on the advice of the federal Council of Ministers. The latter is headed by the Prime Minister, appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong from among the members of Parliament. Among them, Yang di-Pertuan Agong has discretionary powers to choose who he wants as the Prime Minister and is not bound by the decision of the outgoing PM if no party has won a majority vote. It, however, does not afford him the right and authority to dismiss the PM and he also can dismiss or withhold consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament. He may discontinue or dissolve Parliament but he can only dissolve Parliament at the request of the PM and he can reject any new laws or amendments to existing laws but if he still withholds permission, it will automatically become law after 30 days from the initial submission to him. The 15th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan and his reign began on 13 December 2016, after his election on 14 October 2016 at the 243rd Conference of Rulers. The ceremonial installation of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be held on 24 April 2017, common English terms used in the media and by the general public include King, Paramount Ruler, Head of State, Head of the Federation, and Head of State of the Federation. In Malaysian passports prior to the 2010 redesign, the title The Supreme Head of Malaysia was used in the English version of the passport note, since the issuance of ICAO compliant e-passports in 2010, the untranslated title His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia is used. In August 1957, having rejected the title of Yang di-Pertuan Besar in favour of Yang di-Pertuan Agong. By seniority, the 84-year-old major general Ibrahim of Johor, Sultan of Johor since 1895, was first in line, but he declined due to old age. The next in line, Abu Bakar of Pahang, Sultan of Pahang since 1932, was rejected five times by his fellow electors, abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, having been elected to his state throne in 1933, was elected by eight votes to one. After a ruler had served as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he may not stand for election until all rulers of the states have also stood for election. In the event of a vacancy of the office, the Conference of Rulers elects a new Yang di-Pertuan Agong as if the term had expired. The new Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected for a full five-year term, after his term expires, the Conference holds a new election, in which the incumbent would not be re-elected
11.
Muhammad V of Kelantan
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Muhammad V is the 15th and the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and the Sultan of Kelantan. He was proclaimed Sultan of Kelantan on 13 September 2010, succeeding his father, Sultan Ismail Petra and he was proclaimed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2016. Born Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra ibni Sultan Ismail Petra in Kota Bharu and he attended St Cross College, Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for diplomatic studies, graduating in 1991. In May 2009, his father, Sultan Ismail Petra, suffered a major stroke, Sultan Ismail Petra was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and Faris was appointed Regent on 25 May in the Sultans absence. In January 2010, the High Court rejected Fakhrys application, in another twist, Sultan Ismail Petras private secretary declared Succession Council chairman Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mohd Hamzah as Regent. The appointment was challenged by Faris in court and he took the regnal name Muhammad V. However, his father, Sultan Ismail Petra, has petitioned the Federal Court to declare his appointment unconstitutional. Sultan Ismail Petra is still recovering from the stroke he suffered in 2009, Muhammad V attended the 222nd Meeting of the Conference of Rulers for the first time as a full member in October 2010. This marked the recognition of his accession as Sultan by other rulers, Sultan Muhammad V was elected Deputy Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on October 2011. He served in that post from 13 December 2011 until his election as Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2016, Sultan Muhammad V was elected by the Conference of Rulers on 14 October 2016 to become the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state of Malaysia. His reign began on 13 December 2016, taking over from Abdul Halim, at 47, Sultan Muhammad V is the fourth youngest Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be elected, after Putra of Perlis, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu and Tuanku Abdul Halim of Kedah. He is the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the history to reign without a consort or the Raja Permaisuri Agong. His younger brother, Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, the Tengku Mahkota, as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he holds full responsibility as Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces. He also holds the responsibility as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Artillery Regiment, Malaysian Army
12.
Raja Permaisuri Agong
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Raja Permaisuri Agong is the title given to the consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the elected, constitutional head of state of Malaysia. There is currently no Raja Permaisuri Agong, as the current and 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malay word permaisuri is derived from Tamil பரமேஸ்வரி, from Sanskrit परमेश्वरी, supreme lady. The Raja Permaisuri Agong immediately follows her husband, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected every five years among the nine hereditary rulers of the states of Malaysia. When a ruler is elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, his consort automatically becomes the Raja Permaisuri Agong. In effect, the holder of the title of Raja Permaisuri Agong changes every five years, like many spouses of heads of state, the Raja Permaisuri Agong has no stipulated role in the Constitution of Malaysia. She accompanies the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to official functions and state visits, as well as hosting visiting heads of state, article 34 of the Malaysian Constitution forbids the Raja Permaisuri Agong from holding any appointment carrying any remuneration or actively engaging in any commercial enterprise. The Raja Permaisuri Agong is, however, legally entitled to a payment which is included in the Civil List of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Previous holders of the title of Raja Permaisuri Agong whose husbands are deceased receive a pension from the Federal Governments Civil List, the following consorts have served as Raja Permaisuri Agong,1. ^ Tuanku Abdul Halim is the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reign twice. Sultanah Haminah has been his wife since 1975. Yang di-Pertuan Agong Royal Regalia of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Negara Malay titles Elective monarchy
13.
Nazrin Shah of Perak
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Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah is the 35th Sultan of Perak. He is currently the Deputy Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, elected on 14 October 2016, Sultan Nazrin Shah was born on 27 November 1956 at George Town, Penang, Malaya. Sekolah Rendah Jalan Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur from 1963 to 1967, st. John Institution, Kuala Lumpur from 1968 to 1970. Sultan Nazrin was educated at Malay College Kuala Kangsar and holds a BA degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Worcester College, Oxford. He also holds an MPA degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a PhD degree in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. The sultan has also written articles and spoken on a range of issues including the role of the constitutional monarchy in Malaysia, education, Islam, ethnic relations. He is also an Eminent Fellow of the Institute of Strategic and he was proclaimed the Raja Muda of Perak on 15 April 1984, taking over from his father, Sultan Azlan Shah, who had become the Sultan of Perak two weeks earlier. He was appointed Regent of Perak when his father became the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994, as the Sultan of Perak he is also the Colonel-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armys Royal Army Engineers Regiment. Sultan Nazrin was elected as the Deputy Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on 14 October 2016, the appointment took effect on 13 December 2016. Sultan Nazrin of Perak married Zara Salim Davidson at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, Sultan Nazrin and Tuanku Zara had known each other for eight years before the wedding. The day after the wedding there was a ceremony to bestow Tuanku Zara with the title of Raja Puan Besar of Perak. Nazrins father had proclaimed Zara Salim Davidson as the Raja Puan Besar of Perak, the first child of the couple, Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah, was born on 14 March 2008, followed by Raja Nazira Safya Shah, was born on 2 August 2011. His Highness Raja Azlan Muzzaffar Shah, Raja Kechil Besar Perak,27 November 1956 –17 June 1965, His Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Raja Azlan Shah. 17 June 1965 –12 November 1982, His Highness Raja Nazrin ibni Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah,12 November 1982 –3 February 1984, His Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Raja Tun Azlan Shah. 3 February 1984 –16 February 1984, His Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah,16 February 1984 –15 April 1987, His Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, The Raja Kechil Besar. 15 April 1987 –25 April 1989, His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah,26 April 1989 –25 April 1994, His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, The Regent of Perak. 25 April 1994 –27 January 2008, His Royal Highness Raja Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah,27 January 2008 –29 May 2014, His Royal Highness Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, The Regent of Perak. 29 May 2014 – present, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfurlah, Raja Nazrins Long-time Friend First To Arrive For Royal Wedding Bernama,13 May 2007
14.
Line of succession to the Malaysian throne
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Malaysia practises an elective monarchy, and as such, there is no distinct line of succession to the Malaysian thrones. In the event where the current seat of the throne falls vacant, the deputy king does not automatically succeed the throne. The election is regulated by Article 32 of the Constitution of Malaysia, by convention, the monarch of the Throne of Malaysia has been elected by the established order of seniority of the states. Negeri Sembilan is unique in that it is the only State in Malaysia which practices an elective monarchy instead of a linear dynasty, the four largest luak in Negeri Sembilan each elect an Undang, who are also the kingmakers of the State. When the position of the Yamtuan Besar falls vacant, the four Undangs will be called upon to appoint a successor among the Princes of Four and they are the Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti, the Tunku Laksamana, the Tunku Muda of Serting and the Tunku Panglima Besar. The current Yamtuan Besar is Tuanku Muhriz, the reigning Sultan appoints princes in the male line of descent from a Sultan to certain high princely titles. They are arranged in an order of precedence indicating the order of succession to the throne. Crown Prince and Heir Apparent to the Sultanate The Raja Di-Hilir, deputy Crown Prince and Second Heir to the Sultanate. While titleholders are usually appointed for life, titles may be revoked in cases of proven incompetence or disability, on the death or promotion of an existing titleholder, the holder of the next most senior title succeeds him. The Raja Muda is the apparent, and succeeds the ruling sultan on his demise. The Raja Kechil Besar then becomes the Raja Di-Hilir, the new Sultan may then appoint his own nominee to the junior-most title made vacant by these successions
15.
Government of Malaysia
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The Government of Malaysia refers to the Federal Government or national government authority 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, the state governments in Malaysia also have their respective executive and legislative bodies. The judicial system in Malaysia is a court system operating uniformly throughout the country. The federal or central government is the authority in Malaysia having its base in Putrajaya. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia who is known as the head of government. The bicameral parliament consists of the house, the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat and the upper house. All seventy Senate members sit for three-year terms, twenty-six are elected by the thirteen state assemblies, 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 body is elected through a first-past-the-post system. Parliament has a 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, 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. The highest court in the system is the Federal Court, followed by the Court of Appeal. The subordinate courts in each of these jurisdictions include Sessions Courts, Magistrates Courts, Malaysia also has a Special Court to hear cases brought by or against all Royalty. The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the elected head of government of Malaysia. 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 Ministers Department is the body and ministry in which the Prime Minister exercises its functions, each state governments in Malaysia is created by the respective state constitutions. Each state has a state legislative chamber whose members are elected from single-member constituencies
16.
Cabinet of Malaysia
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The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysias government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament, according to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members of either houses of Parliament. Formally, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints all Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister, in practice, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is obliged to follow the advice of the Prime Minister on the appointment and dismissal of ministers. Members of the Cabinet must be members of either house of Parliament, most ministers are appointed from the lower house, the Dewan Rakyat, although a few are appointed from the upper house, the Dewan Negara. The Prime Minister must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat, although Deputy Ministers and/or Parliamentary Secretaries may be appointed to each portfolio, they are not included in the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets weekly, every Wednesday, the composition of the Cabinet, and the number of portfolios depends mainly on the wishes of the Prime Minister at the time. However, the post of Finance Minister was considered so important as to be a necessity, the position of Deputy Prime Minister is one that exists by convention, and as a result a Prime Minister could theoretically form a Cabinet without a Deputy. Deputy ministers exist for each portfolio, although they are not considered members of the Cabinet, the position of Deputy Minister was created by constitutional amendment in 1960. The office of secretary for each ministry exists but none were appointed after the 2008 Malaysian general election. Parliamentary secretaries were provided for by an amendment in 1963, Deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also appointed from members of Parliament, and deputise for the ministers in government ministries and in Parliament respectively. An additional office, that of the Political Secretary, exists, Political Secretaries need not be members of Parliament. Before taking office, all members of the Cabinet, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, an outline of the functions of the Cabinet are as follow, To formulate national economic policies and development programs. The Cabinet is responsible to formulate various development programs and projects for the development of the country, examples are the New Economic Policy, the National Development Policy, and the National Vision Policy. To set the budget and finance of the country, the government is allowed to generate revenues from the people through the collection of taxes, fines, summons, custom duties, fees, etc. The government is allowed to plan for the development programs. As an arena for suggestions, debates, and criticisms, the Cabinet is allowed to discuss almost any issues of national interests, except those that touch on the special rights of the Malays, Bumiputeras and/or royal privileges. To propose and amend the law, law is proposed by the Executive and introduce in Parliament with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd readings for approval. Most provisions for the amendments of the constitution requires a 2/3 majority of the number of members from both the Houses or Dewans
17.
Prime Minister of Malaysia
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It is in practice, the most powerful political position in Malaysia. The Prime Minister has always been from the United Malays National Organisation part of Barisan Nasional since independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman was the Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya, restyled to Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 after the formation of Malaysia. Federation of Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957, the 6th and current prime minister is Najib Razak, who took office on 3 April 2009. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the Prime Ministers advice shall appoint other Ministers from either Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara, the Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament of Malaysia. The members of the Cabinet shall not hold any office of profit and engage in any trade, the Prime Ministers Department is the body and ministry in which the Prime Minister exercises its functions and powers. The Yang di-Pertuan Agongs choice of replacement prime minister will be dictated by the circumstances, the power of the prime minister is subject to a number of limitations. Conventionally, between the dissolution of one Parliament and the convening of the next, the 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, ismail Abdul Rahman occasionally acted as Acting Prime Minister when Tunku Abdul Rahman and Abdul Razak Hussein was on leave for going abroad. In 1988, when UMNO as the member of the Barisan Nasional coalition was declared unlawful and illegal political party. Ling Liong Sik became the new Chairman of the Barisan Nasional and served as an Acting Prime Minister for a couple of days until the new party, anwar Ibrahim acted as an Acting Prime Minister for two months started from 19 May 1997 as Mahathir Mohamad was on vacation. Colour key, Alliance Party Barisan Nasional Note Prime ministers are granted certain privileges after leaving office at government expense. Former prime ministers continue to be important national figures, the most recently deceased prime minister was Tunku Abdul Rahman, who died on 6 December 1990. Air transports of heads of state and government Official state car Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Leader of the Opposition Chief Ministers in Malaysia
18.
Najib Razak
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Dato Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was sworn in to the position on 3 April 2009 to succeed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and he is the President of the United Malays National Organisation, the leading party in Malaysias ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Najib is the eldest son of Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysias second Prime Minister, and he was elected to the Parliament of Malaysia in 1976, at the age of 23, replacing his deceased father in the Pahang-based seat of Pekan. From 1982 to 1986 he was the Menteri Besar of Pahang, before entering the federal Cabinet of Mahathir Mohamad in 1986 as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He served in various Cabinet posts throughout the remainder of the 1980s and 1990s, including as Minister for Defence, under his leadership, Barisan Nasional won the 2013 election, although for the first time in Malaysias history the opposition won the majority of the popular vote. These protests culminated in the Malaysian Citizens Declaration by Mahathir Mohamad, Pakatan Harapan, Najibs various subsidy cuts have contributed to soaring living costs, while fluctuating oil prices as well as fallout from the 1MDB scandal have led to a steady depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit. Born 23 July 1953, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Najib is the eldest of Malaysian 2nd Prime Minister Abdul Razaks six sons, and he received his primary and secondary education at St. Johns Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He later attended Malvern College in Worcestershire, England, and subsequently went to the University of Nottingham, Najib Razak returned to Malaysia in 1974 and entered the business world, serving briefly in Bank Negara and later with Petronas as a public affairs manager. In 1976 Najib married Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar with whom he has three children, Mohd Nizar Najib, Mohd Nazifuddin Najib and Puteri Norlisa Najib. In 1987 he divorced Ku Yie and married Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with whom he has two children, Mohd Norashman Najib and Nooryana Najwa Najib and his daughter, Nooryana, is married to the nephew of Kazakhstans President, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Najib has been described as a buddy of American President Donald Trump. The son of Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, in 1976 Najib was selected to run for the seat in parliament left vacant by his fathers death. The national outpouring of grief following Tun Razaks death and the respect for his father helped Najib win election unopposed as Member of Parliament at the young age of 23. In 1986 Najib won re-election to the same seat and he served as the Menteri Besar of Pahang between 1982 and 1986, becoming the youngest Menteri Besar in the state to enter office when he was sworn in at the age of 29. In 1986 he was appointed as Minister of Culture, Youth and he focused on improving Malaysian sports and introduced the National Sports Policy in 1988. In 1989 Malaysia achieved its best-ever performance at the South East Asia Games, Najib was appointed head of UMNO Youths Pekan branch and became a member of UMNO Youths Executive Council in 1976. In 1981, he was selected as a member of UMNOs Supreme Council, in 1987, Najib was selected as the acting head of the Movement of UMNO Youth by Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim after Anwar was asked to contest the post of UMNO Vice-President. Following mounting ethnic tensions anti-Chinese sentiments were expressed at a UMNO Youth rally held in Kampung Baru, rising tensions soon lead to fears of ethnic violence and eventually resulted in a security operation known as Operasi Lalang, that included numerous administrative detentions
19.
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
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The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is the second highest political office in Malaysia. There have been eleven deputy prime ministers since the office was created in 1957, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, started the convention of appointing a Deputy Prime Minister. The current Deputy Prime Minister is Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who took office on 29 July 2015, the official residence for Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is Sri Satria in Putrajaya. Before Sri Satria, the first Deputy Prime Minister official residence is Seri Taman, although Malaysia has always had a Deputy Prime Minister since independence, a Prime Minister may choose not to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister. The office of Deputy Prime Minister is not provided for in the Constitution of Malaysia, at the same time, a Prime Minister could appoint more than one Deputy Prime Minister, as has occurred before in Singapore. In the organisational structure of Barisan Nasional, the President and Deputy President of UMNO are automatically made the Chairman and this position, currently however, were filled by Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a Vice-President of UMNO. This is the time the position were filled by a non-Deputy President of UMNO. Of the ten previous officeholders, five have gone on to prime minister. Of the remaining, one died in office, two resigned, and two were removed from office by the prime minister. Ismail Abdul Rahman died in office due to heart attack in 1973. Musa Hitam resigned from second Mahathir cabinet over differences with Prime Minister over government policy in 1986, anwar Ibrahim was the first deputy prime minister to be sacked after being accused and subsequently charged with corruption and sodomy in 1998. Muhyiddin Yassin was the second DPM to be removed office after being dropped from the Cabinet by Prime Minister Najib Razak in a reshuffle in 2015. Colour key, Alliance Party Barisan Nasional Below are the former deputy prime minister who do not hold the position of prime minister. Living former Deputy Prime Ministers Spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Official state car Air transports of heads of state and government
20.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
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Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a Malaysian politician who has been Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia since 2015 in the Barisan Nasional coalition government of Prime Minister Najib Razak. He has also been Minister of Home Affairs since 2013, and he is the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Bagan Datoh constituency in Perak and a member of the United Malays National Organisation political party. Early in his career, Zahid was a Senator and chairman of Bank Simpanan Nasional before becoming the head of UMNOs youth wing. In 1998, Zahid spoke out against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Zahid, seen as an ally of deposed Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, was subsequently arrested and held in prison under the Internal Security Act. After the 2004 election, Zahid became a Deputy Minister in the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, while a Deputy Minister, Zahid studied for and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Universiti Putra Malaysia. After the 2008 election, Zahid became a Minister in the Prime Ministers Department and he was appointed Minister of Defence in April 2009. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed as Minister of Home Affairs in 2013, Hishamuddin took Ahmad Zahid Hamidis previous position at the Ministry of Defence. In July 2015, he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister in a cabinet reshuffle, Ahmad Zahid is the eldest son of nine siblings. On 1 October 2011, his mother died of a stroke and heart complication in her hometown Sungai Nipah Darat and she was hospitalized at the Hospital Angkatan Tentera, Tuanku Mizan, Kuala Lumpur. His daughter, Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Zahid, hosts the local TV show Inspirasi Ramadhan and is involved with the Rejimen Askar Wataniah as a volunteer. He was raised by a Malaysian Chinese foster-father and sold ice cream together for six years with his family when he was in elementary school. Following accusations that he was anti-Chinese, he stated Am I anti-Chinese when I have a Chinese foster father, before venturing into politics, Ahmad Zahid was a banker for OCBC. He was also one of the directors of Bank Simpanan Nasional, in 1999 he became the Chairman of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad. In 2007, Ahmad Zahid led a group of bikers for a tour of Malaysian, in 1986, he was appointed political secretary to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak during the latters term as Youth Minister and then Defence Minister. In 1995, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi became a member of parliament after winning the Bagan Datoh parliamentary seat in Perak in the general elections and he was elected UMNO Youth Chief in 1996. During the 53th UMNO General Assembly in 1997, Zahid spoke out against Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, in response, Mahathir publicised the names of those Malay/Bumiputeras who had received shares and high positions in government-linked corporations. In 1999, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was re-elected Member of Parliament for Bagan Datoh in Perak in the general elections and he was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council the following year. After he won the seat for a 3rd time in the 2004 general elections, while a Deputy Minister, he pursued a Doctor of Philosophy degree from, thesis entitled Barisan Nasional Manifesto As Agenda for Malay Language Newspaper During the General Election Campaign
21.
Chief Secretary to the Government
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The Chief Secretary to the Government is the most senior officer in the Malaysian Civil Service. He is secretary to the Cabinet of Malaysia and is the secretary-general of the Prime Ministers Department, the title of Chief Secretary to the Government in Malaysia dates back to the Federated Malay States. In 1911, it replaced the office of Resident-General as head of the British colonial administration, the inaugural Chief Secretary was Edward Lewis Brockman. After 1936, the powers of Chief Secretary was transferred to the British High Commissioner. The Chief Secretary to the Government is the head of the Civil Service of Malaysia and he attends Cabinet meetings as its secretary and monitors the implementation of its policies. He also heads the large Prime Ministers Department, which is in charge of, among others, supporting the Prime Minister, administration of the service, state protocol. In addition, the Chief Secretary chairs the meetings of Ministry secretaries-generals, the following is the list of Chief Secretaries to the Government, Chief Secretary Official website
22.
Ali Hamsa
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Tan Sri Dato Dr. Ali bin Hamsa is the 13th and the incumbent Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia since 24 June 2012. Dr. Ali joined the Administrative and Diplomatic Service as an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Trade and he consecutively held the positions of Director of Disbursement Division and Deputy Director-General of the National Transformation and Advancement Program. He sworn in as the Chief Secretary to the Government on 28 June 2012 before Prime Minister Najib Razak in Parliament. As the Chief Secretary, he is Chairman of the Malaysian Integrity Institute, Co-Chair of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business, and Deputy Chairman of Johor Corporation. Dr. Ali also an Advisor of 1Malaysia Development Berhad, Director of Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad, Member of Penang Port Commission and Member of the Board of Bumiputera Agenda Coordinating Unit
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Chief Ministers in Malaysia
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In Malaysia, the Menteri Besar is the head of government of each of nine states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For four states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used, the title Menteri Besar is usually untranslated in the English media in Malaysia, but is typically translated as Chief Minister by foreign media. According to protocol, all Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers are styled Yang Amat Berhormat, following elections to the state legislative assembly, the Ruler or Governor usually invites the party with a majority of seats to form the state government. The Ruler or Governor appoints and swears in the Menteris Besar or Chief Ministers, there are no limits to the number of terms that the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister can serve. In most states within Malaysia, the office was created by the British colonial government in 1948, however, Johor was the first state to create the Menteri Besar position, subject to Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor enforced by Sultan Abu Bakar. This had made Johor the first Malay state to adopt a system of constitutional monarchy, after Malaya gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, the office bearer is appointed among the state legislative assembly members by the Sultans. The Menteri Besar and Chief Minister usually comes from the party which commands a majority in the state assembly, for many decades, the First Ministers and Chief Ministers met with each other and the Prime Minister at Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri. Upon appointment, he not hold any office of profit and engage in any trade. Only through royal consent the office of Menteri Besar can be held by an individual who does not meet these criteria, for four states in Malaysia with governors, the office of Ketua Menteri is open to any Malaysian citizen regardless of their religion, ethnicity and gender. The Menteri Besar is elected through a majority in the legislative assembly. This is procedurally established by the vote of confidence in the legislative assembly, since, according to the constitution, the Menteri Besar is appointed by the Ruler, the swearing in is done before the Ruler of the state. Remuneration of the Menteri Besar as well as members of the Executive Council. Hence this varies from state to state
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List of local governments in Malaysia
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This is the list of local governments in Malaysia. Local governments administrating a city are normally called City Council, however, there are local authorities which are called City Hall such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Kota Kinabalu City Hall and Kuching North City Hall. The usage of the city hall is a possible misnomer since a city hall normally refers to the building which houses a city council instead of the local authority itself. The following bodies are classified as special or modified local government, although Kudat is listed as a Town Board and Bintulu listed as a Development Board, they are not listed in website of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government as a modified local government
25.
Civil service in Malaysia
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For all intents and purpose, Statutory Bodies and the Local Authorities are also considered as parts of the Public Service. Besides that, their officers and staff also receive pension and other retirement benefits similar to the employees in the Public Service, Public agencies are agencies in the Public Service at the Federal, State and the Local Government levels. Federal agencies consist of Ministries, Federal Departments and Federal Statutory Bodies, each ministry is headed by a Minister and assisted by deputy minister and the chief executive officer that is known as the Secretary General. The Prime Ministers Department is also a ministry, typically there will be a number of departments and possibly one or more statutory bodies as well under a ministry. Head of departments are given the title Director General, head of statutory bodies are called chairman while the chief executive officer who is a civil servant is called the General Manager. There are statutory bodies headed by the chairman who also functions as the General Manager as is the case in the Employees Provident Fund. State Agencies consist of departments, state statutory bodies and local governments. The term Public Service does not include special institutions like the Judiciary, Public Service Commissions, nevertheless, the organisations providing support or secretarial services to these institutions are public agencies whose officers and staff are from the Public Service. Central Agency in Malaysia is important, as it assists the government in formulating policies, co-ordinating, controlling and monitoring the development programs. Among the main responsibilities of the Central Agency are, To formulate public policies with regard to economic planning of the state, to provide necessary services that is required by the Operation Agency. To ensure that public policy are implemented and executed accordingly by the Operation Agency, as such, the co-ordination and control by the Central Agency, tend to encompass a few crucial aspects or functions, Examine and scrutinise the estimate annual budget of state. Examine public servant services scheme, public servant grades, and positions, Examine and scrutinise the annual economic development programs and projects of state, and also the Five-yearly economic policy of state. Enforce financial regulations and public services, coordinate the formulation of public policy, programs, and projects, and also its implementation. To analyse and investigate complaints and feedback, with regard to the various governmental programs. Murugiah, a Deputy Minister in the Prime Ministers Department, denied in a press conference that the government was only focusing on hiring ethnic-Malay civil servants. “People always criticise us for hiring only those from one race to work in the service, the percentage of non-Bumiputeras hired by the Public Service Commission has increased in the past few years, ” he stated. According to Murugiah 58. 2% of the 1,559 Chinese applicants interviewed as of 15 June 2010 have been hired,1,833 ethnic Indians were interviewed as of 15 June 2010 and 42. 7% of them hired. In 20086,106 ethnic Indians were interviewed of which 38.8 percent were hired. “There is no bias there, all races are given opportunity for top management positions
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Parliament of Malaysia
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The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament. The Parliament assembles in the Malaysian Houses of Parliament, located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The term Member of Parliament usually refers to a member of the Dewan Rakyat, the term Senator usually refers to a member of the Dewan Negara, the upper house of the Parliament. In line with the nature of the new country, the upper house would also have members elected by state legislative assemblies in addition to members appointed by the King. Parliament first sat at the headquarters building of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force on a hill near Jalan Tun Ismail. The Dewan Negara met in a hall on the floor while the Dewan Rakyat met in the hall on the first floor. In 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore merged to form Malaysia, both Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara were expanded to include representatives from the new states. When Singapore seceded from Malaysia in 1965, it ceased to be represented in the Parliament of Malaysia, significant change regarding the composition of Dewan Negara occurred during this period. Under the 1957 Constitution of Malaya, senators elected by the assemblies were in the majority, totaling 22 members with 2 for each state. Parliament has been suspended only once in the history of Malaysia, from 1969 to 1971 – when Parliament reconvened – the nation was run by the National Operations Council. Debates in Parliament are broadcast on radio and television occasionally, such as during the tabling of a budget, the prohibitive cost was also cited as a reason. It is subordinate to the Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Dewan Rakyat consists of 222 members of Parliament elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on population in a general election using the first-past-the-post system. A general election is held five years or when Parliament is dissolved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. Suffrage is given to registered voters 21 years and above, however voting is not compulsory, the age requirement to stand for election is 21 years and above. The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members,26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies,4 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to represent the 3 federal territories, the rest 40 members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators must be 30 years or above, and are appointed to a term for a maximum of two terms. The dissolution of the Parliament does not affect the Dewan Negara, Members of Parliament are permitted to speak on any subject without fear of censure outside Parliament, the only body that can censure an MP is the House Committee of Privileges
27.
Dewan Negara
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The Dewan Negara usually reviews legislation that has been passed by the lower house, the Dewan Rakyat. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara, before they are sent to the King for royal assent. However, if the Dewan Negara rejects a bill, it can delay the bills passage by a maximum of a year before it is sent to the King. Like the Dewan Rakyat, the Dewan Negara meets at the Malaysian Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, originally, the Dewan Negara was meant to act as a check on the Dewan Rakyat and represent the interests of the various states. However, the constitution, which provided for a majority of state-elected senators, has since been modified to make the vast majority of senators instead appointed by the King. Members of the Dewan Negara are referred to as Senators or Ahli Dewan Negara in Malay, the term of office is 3 years and senators may only be re-appointed once, consecutively or non-consecutively. Each of the 13 state legislative assemblies chooses two senators, the King appoints two senators for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and one respectively for the Federal Territories of Labuan and Putrajaya on the advice of the Prime Minister. Another 40 senators, regardless of their states, are appointed by the King, the intent of the original Constitution of Malaysia, which provided for only 16 Senators to be appointed by the King was to give the states some say over federal policy. Holders of a full-time profit-making position in the service are also ineligible. There is no requirement to belong to a political party, Parliament is permitted to increase the number of Senators to three per state, reduce the number of appointed Senators, or abolish the post of appointed Senator altogether. The process of appointment is set out by Article 45 of the Constitution, Senators can be appointed to ministerial posts in the Cabinet by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, the Dewan Negara never supplies the Prime Minister, as the Prime Minister must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat. The Dewan Negara is not affected by the elections for the Dewan Rakyat, the Dewan Negara elects a President to preside over sittings of the Dewan Negara, ensure observance of the rules of the house, and interpret the Standing Orders of the house should they be disputed. Should the President be absent, his Deputy takes his place, the Dewan Negara may initiate legislation, except for financial and fiscal matters – a regulation directly from the Westminster system. It may also amend legislation, provided it does not deal with financial matters, any proposed legislation must first be passed by the Dewan Rakyat. Then it is presented to the Dewan Negara in three readings, at the first, the legislations proposer presents it to the assembly. At the second, the bill is debated, at the third, a vote is taken whether to pass or reject the bill. The Dewan Negara may not formally reject bills, it is allowed to delay their passage by one month
28.
President of the Dewan Negara
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The President of the Dewan Negara is the presiding officer of the Dewan Negara, the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia. The President of the Dewan Negara is created under Article 56 of the Constitution of Malaysia, the office is similar to the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, the President is elected by the members of the Dewan Negara and is expected to be politically impartial. If a member of the Dewan Negara is elected as the President and is a member of a legislative assembly. As the President may hold different titles while in office, it changes the style. The current President is Datuk SA, therefore while in session, the Senators will call him as Datuk Yang di-Pertua or Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Dewan Negara Parliament of Malaysia Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Parliament of Malaysia
29.
Dewan Rakyat
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The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia, consisting of members elected during elections from federal constituencies drawn by the Election Commission. The Dewan Rakyat usually proposes legislation through a known as a bill. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara, before they are sent to the King for royal assent. However, if the Dewan Negara rejects a bill, it can delay the bills passage by a maximum of a year before it is sent to the King. Like the Dewan Negara, the Dewan Rakyat meets at the Malaysian Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Members of the Dewan Rakyat are referred to as Members of Parliament or Ahli Dewan Rakyat in Malay. The term of office is as long as the wins in the elections. A member of the Dewan Rakyat must be at least 21 years of age, the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat is the Speaker, who is elected at the beginning of each Parliament or after the vacation of the post, by the MPs. Two Deputy Speakers are also elected, and one of them sits in place of the Speaker when he is absent, as of the 2013 general election, Dewan Rakyat has 222 elected members. Members are elected from federal constituencies drawn by the Election Commission, constituency boundaries are redrawn every ten years based on the latest census. Each Dewan Rakyat lasts for a maximum of five years, after which an election must be called. In the general election, voters select a candidate to represent their constituency in the Dewan Rakyat, the plurality voting system is used, the candidate who gains the most votes wins the seat. Before a general election can be called, the King must first dissolve Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister, according to the Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the right at his own discretion to either grant or withhold consent to dissolve the parliament. As the ultimate legislative body in Malaysia, Parliament is responsible for passing, amending and repealing acts of law, parliaments members are permitted to speak on any subject without fear of censure outside Parliament, the only body that can censure an MP is the House Committee of Privileges. An exception is made by the Sedition Act passed by Parliament in the wake of the 13 May racial riots in 1969, under the Act, all public discussion of repealing certain Articles of the Constitution dealing with Bumiputra privileges such as Article 153 is illegal. This prohibition is extended to all members of houses of Parliament. Members of Parliament are also forbidden from criticising the King and judges, the executive government, comprising the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, is usually drawn from members of Parliament, most of its members are typically members of the Dewan Rakyat. In practice, this is usually the leader of the largest party in Parliament, the Prime Minister then submits a list containing the names of members of his Cabinet, who will then be appointed as Ministers by the King. Members of the Cabinet must also be members of Parliament, the King has the discretion to grant or withheld consent to the dissolution
30.
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
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The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, in the absence of the Speaker, one of his deputies will take his place. As of 2013, the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is Pandikar Amin Mulia, all of them are from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. The Speaker determines when a sitting of the House should open and close and he only participates in a vote when there is a tie. The Speaker is elected to a term that lasts for the length of the term of the Dewan Rakyat that elected him and his term ends when the House is dissolved and a general election is called. He is elected when the House meets for the first time after an election by the members of the House. Any MP is qualified to be the Speaker of the House, a candidate for Speaker must be nominated and seconded by at least two MPs other than himself. This nomination process must be conducted at least 14 days before the election of the Speaker, if only one candidate meets these conditions, he is automatically elected Speaker, otherwise, voting by secret ballot is conducted, with the winner decided by a simple majority. Two deputy Speakers are elected in a similar manner, the Clerk of the House presides over the voting. The Dewan Rakyat shall be from time to elect two deputy speakers from among members of the House. List of Deputy Speakers of Dewan Rakyat, Dewan Rakyat Parliament of Malaysia President of the Dewan Negara
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State legislative assemblies of Malaysia
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A state legislative assembly is the legislative branch of the state governments of each of the 13 Malaysian states. Members of a legislative assembly comprises elected representatives from single-member constituencies during state elections through the first-past-the-post system. The assemblies have powers to enact state laws as provided for by the Constitution of Malaysia, the majority party in each assembly forms the state government, and the leader of the majority party becomes menteri besar or chief minister of the state. After the March 2008 general election, the Barisan Nasional coalition were the majority party in eight states, in February 2009, BN regained Perak after 3 Pakatan Rakyat assembly members defected. The state legislative assemblies are unicameral, unlike the bicameral Parliament of Malaysia, the hereditary rulers or Yang di-Pertua Negeri are vested with powers to dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies on the advice of the menteri besar or chief minister. Once dissolved, elections must be carried out within a period of sixty days. Usually, state elections are held simultaneously with the parliamentary elections, with the exception of Sarawak
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Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)
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The Leader of the Opposition in Malaysian Federal Politics is a Member of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat. By convention, the position is held by the leader of the party not in government that has the most seats in the House. When in parliament, the Leader of the Opposition sits on the side of the centre table, in front of the Opposition. The Opposition Leader is elected by the minority party of the House according to its rules, a new Opposition Leader may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership. Malaysia is a monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The Opposition is therefore known as the government in waiting and it is a part of the parliamentary system. To date there have been 10 Opposition Leaders, none of whom have served terms as Prime Minister
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Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
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Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail is a Malaysian politician. She is currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in Dewan Rakyat after elected as the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh from 2015 and she is also the president of Peoples Justice Party and elected Selangor state legislative assembly member for Kajang. Born in 1952 in Singapore, Wan Azizah received her education in St. Nicholas Convent School. Wan Azizah served as a government doctor for 14 years before deciding to focus on volunteering work, as part of her voluntary pursuits, she became a patron of MAKNA in that period and became the second woman to lead a political party in Malaysias history. Wan Azizah has said that she has a Peranakan grandfather but identifies as a Malay Muslim, following the dismissal and arrest of her husband on 20 September 1998, Dr. Wan Azizah earned the respect and admiration of many Malaysians as the leader of the fledgling Reformasi movement. She first led the Social Justice Movement, a civil rights NGO, the establishment of the party saw Dr. Wan Azizah being elected as the first party president. She successfully retained the seat in the 2004 elections after five recounts with a reduced majority, as a political party leader and also a parliamentary representative, Dr. Wan Azizah is involved in many programs and activities domestically and internationally. She has spoken at UN-sponsored programs, and the local and international media and she is also the Vice-Chair of the Malaysian Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Myanmar and a member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus. Wan Azizah won her seat of Permatang Pauh in the 12th Malaysian general election with a majority of 13,388. She was supported by all the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat to lead the opposition in the house of parliament. Nonetheless, she has indicated that she intends to defend her parliamentary seat for Permatang Pauh. The award carries the title of Datuk Seri. On 9 March 2014, PKR announced party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as its new candidate for the Kajang by-election. This is following Anwar Ibrahim sentencing to five years in prison after Malaysias court of appeal overturns sodomy acquittal causing Anwar to be unable to run in the by-election, on 23 March 2014, Wan Azizah was elected as the Selangor state legislative assembly member for Kajang. Pakatan Rakyat Reformasi Asia Week, A Woman of Grace Result of Malaysian General Election 2008 for Permatang Pauh
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Judiciary of Malaysia
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Judiciary of Malaysia is largely centralised despite Malaysias federal constitution, heavily influenced by the English common law and to a lesser extent Islamic law. There are generally two types of trials, criminal and civil, the hierarchy of courts begins from the Magistrates Court, Sessions Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and finally, the Federal Court. The jurisdiction of the courts in civil or criminal matters are contained in the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, article 121 of the Constitution provides for two High Courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction, the High Court in Malaya, and the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak. Thus this creates two separate local jurisdiction of the courts – for Peninsular Malaysia and for East Malaysia, the superior courts are the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court, while the Magistrates Courts and the Sessions Courts are classified as subordinate courts. The current President of the Federal Court, effective 1 April 2017, is Tan Sri Md, raus Sharif, the President of the Court of Appeal is Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, and the Chief Judge of Malaya is Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop. The current Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak is Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, bypassing many other senior judges, Tan Sri Dato Zaki was the first lawyer appointed directly to the Federal Court. After some 2 months as a judge, Tan Sri Dato Zaki was subsequently appointed as the President of the Court of Appeal. There are three courts with different jurisdiction within what is known as the Superior Court and they are the Federal Court, the highest court in the land, the Appeal Court, the High Court of Malaya and the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak. Each is head by a judge called the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, President of the Appeal Court and Chief Judge of the High Courts of Malaya and Sabah. The Federal Court is the highest court in Malaysia, the Federal Court may hear appeals of civil decisions of the Court of Appeal where the Federal Court grants leave to do so. The Federal Court also hears appeals from the Court of Appeal. It is the court of jurisdiction for cases which began in any subordinate courts. The High Courts have unlimited jurisdiction in all matters other than matters involving Islamic law. The High Courts have original jurisdiction in criminal cases punishable by death, cases are heard by a single judge in the High Court, or by a judicial commissioner. While High Court judges enjoy security of tenure, judicial commissioners are appointed for a term of two years, and do not enjoy similar protection under the Constitution, an application for a judicial review is applied in this court. The Magistrates Courts and Sessions Courts in Malaysia have the power in control the criminal and civil matters. Somewhat like the former Quarter Sessions in England, but does not exceed RM1,000,000 as per ss 65,73,93 of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948. The exception however is in relating to motor vehicle accidents, landlord and tenant and distress
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Federal Court of Malaysia
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The Federal Court of Malaysia is the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia. It is housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, the court was established during Malayas independence in 1957 and received its current name in 1994. The Court was presided over by the Governor of the Straits Settlements and Resident Councillor of the settlement where the court was to be held, and another judge called the Recorder. The Third Charter of Justice of 12 August 1855 reorganised the Court, following the reconstitution of the Straits Settlements as a Crown colony with effect from 1 April 1867, the Court of Judicature was replaced by the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements. The Governor and Resident Councillors ceased to be judges of the Court, further changes to the Courts constitution were made in 1873. The Supreme Court also received jurisdiction to sit as an Court of Appeal in civil matters, in 1878 the jurisdiction and residence of judges was made more flexible, thus impliedly abolishing the geographical division of the Supreme Court. Appeals from decisions of the Supreme Court lay first to the Court of Appeal and then to the Queen-in-Council, as a result of legislation passed in 1885, the Supreme Court consisted of the Chief Justice and three puisne judges. The Court was significantly altered in 1907 and it now had two divisions, one exercising original civil and criminal jurisdiction and the other appellate civil and criminal jurisdiction. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, all the courts that had operated under the British were replaced by new courts established by the Japanese Military Administration, the Syonan Koto-Hoin was formed on 29 May 1942, there was also a Court of Appeal, but it was never convened. Following the end of World War II, the courts that had existed before the war were restored, the courts of Penang and Malacca merged with the rest of Malaya to form the Supreme Court of the Federation of Malaya. This continued upon independence in 1957 until 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore formed Malaysia in 1963, the court was renamed the Federal Court of Malaysia. The judicial power of Malaysia was vested in a Federal Court, a High Court in Malaya, a High Court in Borneo, appeals lay from the High Court in Singapore to the Federal Court in Kuala Lumpur, and then to the Privy Council. The merger did not last, in 1965 Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia, however, the High Court of Singapore remained part of the Malaysian Federal Court structure until 1969, when Singapore enacted the Supreme Court of Judicature Act to regularise the judicial system. Before 1985, the Federal Court remained the second highest court in the land, on 1 January 1978, appeals to the Privy Council in criminal and constitutional matters were abolished, while appeals in civil matters were abolished on 1 January 1985. When appeals to the Privy Council were abolished, the court was renamed Supreme Court of Malaysia, finally, on 24 June 1994, as part of reforms, the court was once again renamed the Federal Court of Malaysia. The court is composed of the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judges of the High Court in Malaya, the Chief Justice is also the head of the judiciary in Malaysia. All judges are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister of Mala, all judges mandatorily retire at the age of 65. The following the list of the current judges of the Federal Court, the Federal Court is located in the Palace of Justice in the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya
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