Federation Maps and Fact Sheets

Malaysia
Federalism introduced in 1957
A federation since 1963
Website of the government of Malaysia

Constituent units

• 13 states: Johor; Kedak; Kelantan; Melaka; Negeri Sembilan; Pahang; Perak; Perlis; Pulau Pinang; Sabah; Sarawak; Selangor; Terengganu; 2 federal territories: Labuan and Wilayah Persekutuan.
  • Map of Malaysia (states are not all indicated)
  • Profile of the States
  • Official Websites of state governments

Constitutional distribution of powers

• The Constitution of Malaysia, in particular:
  • Distribution of legislative powers (Art. 73 to 79, 95b, 112c, 161 )
  • Distribution of executive powers (Art. 80)
  • Federal list of powers (Schedule 9, List I)
  • State list of powers (Schedule 9, Lists II and IIa)
  • Concurrent list of powers (Schedule 9, Lists III and IIIa).
    (Source: Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands)

Legislative institutions

• Federal: Bicameral Parliament composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 69 members: each state legislature elects two Senators and the Head of State appoints 43 Senators.
  • Fact sheet on the Senate of Malaysia  (Dewan Negara)
  • Parliament of Malaysia  (Parlimen)
    
• States: Legislative assemblies
  • Websites of state of Melaka; Sabah; Sarawak)

Official language

The Constitution stipulates that Malay is the official language of federal and state governments. It also makes provisions for the use of English in the federal parliament, state assemblies and in some courts, and for the use of certain native languages in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

• The Constitution of Malaysia, in particular  Articles 152, 161, 161a

Other links of interest

• Historical background