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Parliamentary Democracy
Malaysia is a constitutional
monarchy with a system of parliamentary democracy.
It comprises 13 states as well as two local territories
and one administrative capital including the Federal
Capital Kuala Lumpur and Labuan; and Putrajaya
as Malaysia's new Administrative Capital. Each
has its own head of state and an elected assembly.
Nine of the states are ruled by hereditary sultans
whom under a unique system, elect one of their
own to be the constitutional monarch or Yang di-Pertuan
Agong for a period of five years. Malaysia has
a non-political, professional civil service, army
and police and also an independent judiciary.
The Malaysian Parliament comprises the Senate
(Dewan Negara) and the House of Representatives
(Dewan Rakyat). The Senators, whether appointed
or elected, serve a six-year term, while members
of the House of Representatives are elected for
a five-year term in a single member constituency
system. Since gaining its Independence from Britain
on 31 August 1957, free and fair elections to
the House of Representatives have been held regularly
every five years or less.
Constitutionally, a fresh general election must
be held within five years of the preceding polls.
The tenth general election was held on 29 November
1999.
Malaysia has an excellent record of parliamentary
democracy. The country has been ruled by the National
Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition dominated by
the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
since the first general election. Initially known
as the Alliance Party, the coalition consisted
of UMNO, Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). In 1971, it was
expanded to create the Barisan Nasional, which
presently comprises 14 political parties.
This Malaysian Formula, achieved over 42 years,
has spawned political stability, which in turn
has made Malaysia into an attractive location
for foreign investors and benefited its economic
growth.
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