Introduction
Malaysia’s Parliament is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) and the Dewan Negara (Senate). The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house, comprising 222 elected members known as Members of Parliament (MPs). The Dewan Negara is the upper house, comprising 70 appointed senators. The total number of seats in Parliament is therefore 292.
Distribution of Seats
The 222 Dewan Rakyat seats are distributed among the 13 states and 3 federal territories of Malaysia as follows:
| State/Federal Territory | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| Johor | 26 |
| Kedah | 14 |
| Kelantan | 14 |
| Malacca | 6 |
| Negeri Sembilan | 8 |
| Pahang | 14 |
| Penang | 13 |
| Perak | 24 |
| Perlis | 3 |
| Sabah | 25 |
| Sarawak | 31 |
| Selangor | 22 |
| Terengganu | 8 |
| Kuala Lumpur | 11 |
| Labuan | 1 |
| Putrajaya | 1 |
Electoral System
Members of Parliament are elected by universal suffrage in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. Candidates who receive the highest number of votes in their respective constituencies are declared elected.
Terms of Office
The term of office for MPs is five years, after which general elections are held to elect a new Parliament. However, the Prime Minister may advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) to dissolve Parliament and call for snap elections at any time.
Current Composition of Parliament
As of the 15th General Election held on November 19, 2022, the composition of the Dewan Rakyat is as follows:
| Political Party | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| Pakatan Harapan | 82 |
| Barisan Nasional | 30 |
| Perikatan Nasional | 73 |
| Gabungan Parti Sarawak | 23 |
| Warisan | 3 |
| Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat | 4 |
| Independent | 7 |
Women in Parliament
The representation of women in the Malaysian Parliament has been steadily increasing over the years. In the 15th General Election, 34 women were elected to the Dewan Rakyat, representing 15.3% of all MPs. This is a significant improvement from the 10.2% of women MPs in the previous Parliament.
Conclusion
The Malaysian Parliament is a key institution in the country’s democratic system. It plays a vital role in making laws, approving budgets, and holding the government to account. The composition of Parliament is ever-changing, reflecting the political dynamics of the country.
