Executive and Cabinet

MALAYSIAN NATIONHOOD
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND

POWER IN MALAYSIA
SKP 2101
DR ROJANAH KAHAR
EXECUTIVE POWER IN MALAYSIA
 The executive branch of government is the administrative branch which

controls the various state agencies and apparatus.
 It is often convenient to divide the executive into three separate parts: the
head of state, the political Executive and the bureaucracy
 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.
 Executive power lies in the cabinet led by the Prime Minister who must be
a member of the lower house and command a majority.
 The cabinet is chosen from members of both houses of Parliament.
EXECUTIVE AND PRIME MINISTER
 The Prime Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia) is the

indirectly elected head of government (executive) of Malaysia.
 He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state,
who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the
majority of the members of that House of Representatives (Dewan
Rakyat), the elected lower house of Parliament.
 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 Minister's Department (sometimes referred to as the Prime
Minister's Office) is the body and ministry in which the Prime Minister
exercises its functions and powers.
CABINET OF MALAYSIA
 The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's 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.
 The constitution is amended by repealing the Clause (8) of Article 43,
enabling a person who is a member of State Legislative Assembly.
APPOINTMENTS
 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.
 After the position of Parliamentary Secretary was removed and partial live
telecasts of Parliament proceedings began in 2008, Cabinet meetings were
moved to Fridays whenever Parliament sat, so as to allow Ministers to
personally answer questions during Question Time in Parliament.
COMPOSITIONS
 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, and as a result was
incorporated by the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 (Act 375).
 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 parliamentary 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, and Political Secretaries take an oath of
secrecy concerning the proceedings of the Cabinet.
FUNCTIONS OF CABINET
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 (NEP), the National Development Policy (NDP),
and the National Vision Policy (NVP).
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 various development programs, and also to allocate the
resources for these development plans and 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. Article 153 (1): It shall be the
responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and Natives
of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of other communities in
accordance with the provisions of this Article.
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 total number of
members from both the Houses or Dewans.
 The bill must be presented to the YDPA for the final assent.
MALAYSIAN CABINET

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MALAYSIAN NATIONHOOD

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND

 The executive branch of government is the administrative branch which

 The Prime Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia) is the

 The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government.

 Members of the Cabinet must be members of either house of Parliament.

To formulate national economic policies and development programs.

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