Parlimen Malaysia

LANGSUNG: Persidangan Dewan Rakyat | Mesyuarat Ketiga Penggal Keempat | 4 Disember 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Jan: Sultan Ibrahim bertitah bahawa hak-hak negeri perlu sentiasa dihormati, selaras dengan semangat Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MA63) yang menjadi asas pembentukan Malaysia melibatkan Tanah Melayu, Sabah dan Sarawak. The post Agong: Hak negeri perlu sentiasa dihormati, selaras semangat MA63 appeared first on TVS.

Agong: Hak negeri perlu sentiasa dihormati, selaras semangat MA63

Oleh: Zanariah Abd Mutalib dan Suzalina Halid KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, mengalu-alukan pelbagai usaha dilaksanakan kerajaan bagi mereformasi institusi dan undang-undang di Dewan Rakyat. Baginda bertitah, usaha itu termasuklah mengehadkan tempoh jawatan Perdana Menteri kepada dua penggal atau 10 tahun yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, sebelum ini. “Saya turut…

Buletin TV3

Agong alu-alukan pelbagai reformasi institusi, undang-undang termasuk had tempoh jawatan PM

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim today called all those involved in corruption ‘traitors’ to the country.
He said this when delivering the Royal Address at the opening ceremony of the First Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 15th Parliament for the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
He reminded Members of Parliament and civil servants that the positions entrusted to them are a trust from the people and the nation.
"If you abuse your power, misappropriate public funds, accept bribes, or protect bribe-givers, you are a traitor to the country," he said sternly.
Sultan Ibrahim said that when he accepted the role as Malaysia's 17th King, he intended to hunt down those involved in corruption.
"It appears that we have succeeded," he said.
"But I am deeply disappointed to see corruption cases involving the armed forces, even at the highest levels. It seems that after this, I may need to train a sergeant to become the Armed Forces Chief."
He warned that the case could be only the tip of the iceberg.
"I am convinced that there are many more out there – whether in Customs, Immigration, the Police, and other agencies, including those present in the Dewan Rakyat today," he said.
"We will continue to pursue the corrupt until they are found. Corruption must be stopped."
Sultan Ibrahim said the people must act as the eyes and ears of the nation and report corruption.
"Not only the recipients, but also the givers and agents must be investigated, and action taken against them," he said.
"The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission must conduct investigations swiftly, firmly and thoroughly, regardless of rank or position."
He added that the government should prepare experienced judges and establish special fast-track courts so that corruption cases can be resolved quickly.
Economic growth amid global challenges
Sultan Ibrahim said that although the world is facing many challenges, Malaysia recorded positive economic growth of 4.7 per cent last year.
Unemployment and inflation rates remain low, while the hardcore poverty rate has been reduced to 0.09 per cent.
"This year marks the beginning of the 13th Malaysia Plan. I want this plan to focus on the wellbeing of the people, with priority given to education, housing, healthcare and public transport," he said.
He also congratulated Malaysia on its role as Asean Chairman in 2025 and for hosting the 47th Asean Summit.
Use Bahasa Malaysia, or live elsewhere
Separately, Sultan Ibrahim said the nation's identity and future require that any new national education system must exist alongside the national system, with Bahasa Malaysia remaining the main language.
"Therefore, any other system must include Bahasa Malaysia and the history of Malaysia. If one does not wish to accept Bahasa Malaysia, it would be better not to live in Malaysia," he said.
Strengthening democracy and upholding national unity
Sultan Ibrahim welcomed laws related to elections, democratic institutions and political financing, including limiting the prime ministership to two terms or a maximum of 10 years, as well as the introduction of a Freedom of Information Act.
He said Malaysians should return to the original intention behind the formation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which united Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak as one nation.
"We must return to the original intention of its formation – unity, mutual respect and close cooperation between the states and the Federal Government," he said.
"We must be careful not to incite tensions between regions. Differences of opinion must be resolved maturely, without hatred or suspicion.
"The rights of the states must always be respected, but the collective interests of Malaysia must always take priority."
The King also highlighted emerging threats, including digital security risks, misinformation, advanced technology and deepfakes, which facilitate fraud and undermine social stability. Serious crime, extremism and issues touching on the 3R – race, religion and royalty – must be dealt with decisively.
His Majesty called for the urgent enactment of laws relating to national security and foreign threats to preserve harmony among all races and safeguard national sovereignty.
He  also reminded Honourable Members that every discussion, debate and vote in the Dewan Rakyat is not merely about party politics, but decisions that will determine the country's future.
"Therefore, carry out this duty with full integrity, wisdom and responsibility, in the interest of all the people.
"Finally, let us pray that Malaysia continues to progress, prosper, remain peaceful and harmonious, and that the people enjoy a good, happy and prosperous life."

Twentytwo13

Sultan Ibrahim calls those involved in corruption ‘traitors’

DALAM landskap politik Malaysia hari ini, wacana awam tidak lagi bermula di Parlimen, sebaliknya tercetus di media sosial.
Sebelum sesuatu dasar dibahaskan secara menyeluruh di Dewan Rakyat, dasar tersebut sudah pun ditafsir, dinilai dan diperdebatkan di Twitter (X), TikTok dan Facebook.

Sinar Harian

Media sosial sebagai Parlimen tidak rasmi demokrasi Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim bertitah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-13 (RMK13) yang bermula tahun ini perlu memberi tumpuan kepada kesejahteraan rakyat khususnya dalam bidang pendidikan, perumahan, kesihatan dan pengangkutan awam.
Bertitah pada Istiadat Pembukaan Mesyuarat Pertama Penggal Kelima Parlimen ke-15 bagi Dewan Rakyat dan Dewan Negara di sini hari ini, Sultan Ibrahim menegaskan bahawa sistem pendidikan perlu terus diperkasa sebagai asas pembinaan bangsa, jati diri dan masa hadapan negara.

Agong mahu RMK13 fokus kesejahteraan rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, mengalu-alukan pelbagai usaha dilaksanakan kerajaan bagi mereformasi institusi dan undang-undang di Dewan Rakyat.

Berita Harian

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Jan: Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim bertitah baginda berasa amat kecewa terhadap isu rasuah yang berlaku kebelakangan ini. The post Sultan Ibrahim mahu amalan rasuah diperangi besar-besaran appeared first on TVS.

Sultan Ibrahim mahu amalan rasuah diperangi besar-besaran

Oleh: Fareez Azman KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, bertitah agar sebarang usul yang mengiktiraf sistem pendidikan lain, mesti menerima Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa utama. Dalam Titah Diraja Dewan Rakyat hari ini, Baginda menegaskan sistem pendidikan negara perlu diperkasakan. “Sistem pendidikan negara juga perlu diperkasa sebagai asas pembinaan bangsa berjati diri dan masa depan…

Sistem pendidikan negara perlu diperkasa, Bahasa Melayu perlu jadi bahasa utama – Agong

Sultan Ibrahim urges members of the Dewan Rakyat to respect state rights, put national interests first, and settle disputes in a mature manner.

FMT News

Return to heart of MA63, don’t incite tension, king tells MPs

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Jan: Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim bertitah bahawa sebarang usul untuk mengiktiraf sistem pendidikan lain hendaklah menerima dan mematuhi penggunaan Bahasa Melayu serta penghayatan terhadap sejarah Malaysia. The post Agong: Sistem pendidikan lain perlu terima, patuhi sejarah Malaysia appeared first on TVS.

Agong: Sistem pendidikan lain perlu terima, patuhi sejarah Malaysia

Sultan Ibrahim says he’s sure corruption is also prevalent in the customs or immigration departments, or even among those in the Dewan Rakyat.

Military graft scandal just tip of the iceberg, laments king

Two other bills to receive priority at the Dewan Rakyat are a bill to set up an ombudsman, and another on freedom of information.

Priority for bills on PM’s term limit, public prosecutor

NEW DELHI: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul on Friday held talks with India’s parliament speaker Om Birla on potential areas of bilateral cooperation.

New Straits Times

Dewan Rakyat speaker confers with Indian counterpart about areas of cooperation

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is calling for the proposed Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) mechanism to be expedited, expressing hope that it can be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.

MACC pushes DPA to speed up asset recovery from mega corruption cases

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has opened 2026 with a renewed pledge to push through long-promised institutional reforms, including a 10-year cap on the premiership, the separation of prosecutorial powers, a Freedom of Information (Fol) law and an Ombudsman Bill.
Political analysts broadly agree that the Madani government, now entering its fourth year in power, faces few parliamentary obstacles in tabling and passing the reforms, citing Anwar’s two-thirds majority and the largely non-controversial nature of most proposals.
Anwar’s announcement followed a warning in December from DAP, which holds 40 seats in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, that it would re-evaluate its position in the government if meaningful reforms failed to materialise within six months.
The ultimatum came after a bruising outcome for the party in the Sabah state election in November, where it lost all eight seats it contested. Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat secured just one of the 12 seats it contested.
Broad parliamentary support expected
Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow Professor Dr Azmi Hassan said all four reform Bills were likely to secure broad, including bipartisan, support in the Dewan Rakyat, noting that rejecting them would be politically costly for the opposition.
He said there was “simply no justification” for opposing legislation aimed at strengthening democratic governance and public accountability, adding that support could exceed the two-thirds threshold, similar to the unanimous passage of last year’s citizenship amendments.
Azmi said while some reforms, such as the Freedom of Information law and term limits, may not be immediately urgent — given that Anwar could still contest another term at the next general election — they were crucial in signalling political commitment to institutional change.
“These Bills are necessary to convince the public that the government and politicians are committed to delivering the best for the people,” he said, adding that transparency reforms should be prioritised.
Political will, not timing, the key test
Professor James Chin of Monash University Malaysia echoed this view, saying most of the reform proposals had been in the works for more than a year, with draft legislation largely prepared.
He said the central issue was not timing but political will, adding that Anwar would not table any Bill unless its passage was assured.
“There is no hurdle that I can think of,” Chin said, noting that even a unified opposition would be unable to block reforms backed by the ruling coalition’s numbers.
Chin added that the proposals enjoyed strong public support and were unlikely to trigger significant resistance, although more contentious measures — such as political financing reforms — could still face delays.
“At the end of the day, we’re talking about a politician and a government. They will not do anything to embarrass themselves,” he said.
Freedom of Information law seen as cornerstone reform
Pacific Research Centre principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said the reform package reflected a rare convergence of interests between government and opposition lawmakers, arguing that measures such as prosecutorial separation and term limits would benefit whichever side occupied power.
He said the Freedom of Information law was the most critical reform, warning that decades of secrecy under the Official Secrets Act had allowed major scandals to be concealed from public scrutiny.
“Frankly speaking, how does this jive with the OSA? I hope it could either replace or weaken the OSA, because over the past four decades or so, many scandals have been swept under the carpet in the name of the OSA,” he said.
Oh added that failure to pass the reforms would carry political consequences, depending on where resistance emerged.
“If they are not passed because of your own government MPs, then you have a lot of explaining to do,” he said, drawing parallels with the bipartisan passage of the anti-party hopping law.
Civil society flags credibility gap
Despite the apparent legislative momentum, civil society groups have warned that the credibility of Anwar’s reform agenda risks being undermined by recent prosecutorial decisions.
In a joint statement on Friday, the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism and the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections said the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ decision to classify Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Yayasan Akalbudi case as requiring no further action was deeply troubling, particularly given that a prima facie case had already been established in court.
The groups said the decision raised serious questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system and appeared to contradict earlier prosecutorial findings, which had led to Zahid being ordered to enter his defence before the case was discontinued in 2023.
They said the AGC’s claim of “insufficient evidence” following further investigations failed to explain how evidence previously deemed sufficient to sustain prosecution had been nullified.
The groups reiterated that the episode underscored the urgency of separating the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, warning that the current arrangement left prosecutors vulnerable to political influence.
They also called for clear prosecutorial guidelines, similar to those in the United Kingdom and Australia, to place limits on prosecutorial discretion and restore public confidence in the justice system.
Reform moment meets credibility test
Bersih chairman Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz described Anwar’s announcement as a “positive leap” and called on all parties, including the opposition, to support the reform agenda.
Faisal said term limits were expected to reduce the risk of abuse of power by preventing the prolonged concentration of authority, encouraging a prime minister to implement policies and programmes more efficiently, with Malaysia poised to become “a trailblazer among Westminster nations”.
As Parliament prepares for a new session, analysts say Anwar’s ability to deliver on institutional reforms may hinge not on numbers, but on whether legal and governance decisions taken outside the legislature align with the reformist principles his administration has pledged to uphold.

Anwar Ibrahim renews push for institutional reforms amid scrutiny over prosecutorial independence

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court today dismissed Bersatu’s application to get leave to appeal the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's refusal to declare as vacant four Sabah parliamentary seats won by the party's former members in the last general election.

Apex court dismisses Bersatu's leave to appeal against Speaker's decision on Sabah MP seats

THE Federal Court today dismissed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) application for leave to appeal against the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s decision not to declare four parliamentary seats in Sabah vacant. These seats had been won by former party...

The Vibes

Federal Court denies Bersatu’s bid to challenge Sabah parliamentary seat rulings

The Federal Court has, in a split decision, refused the party leave to appeal, ruling that the court cannot encroach on the powers of the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

End of legal route for Bersatu over Sabah MPs case

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Donald Trump, despite mounting pressure to condemn the US president's desire to seize Greenland.

Facing his first PMQs of 2026, the prime minister rejected the idea of a choice between the Europe and the US.

While Danish leaders warn that an American attack would mark the "end of Nato," Starmer maintained a cautious distance, insisting that the future of the island must be decided by Greenland and Denmark alone.

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The Independent

'Strategic mistake' to choose between Europe and US, says Starmer

Keir Starmer risks re-igniting a row with members of his cabinet after he signalled the UK is prepared to “get closer” to the European Union to undo the harm caused by Brexit.

The prime minister said Britain should align itself more closely with the EU single market when it is in the national interest, adding “we should go that far”.

Starmer faces opposition leader Kemi Badenoch at first PMQs of the year 2026. 

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PMQs live: Starmer faces claims of ‘Brexit betrayal’ in first PMQs of 2026

Sir Keir Starmer made a jab at Nigel Farage and Reform UK during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (7 January). In his first PMQs of 2026, the prime minister said he hoped that all MPs had a merry Christmas, after the Commons broke for recess on 20 December. He continued: “It probably feels quite a long time ago now but not for Reform of course, because today is the day that they celebrate Christmas in Russia.” The prime minister has previously called out Mr Farage’s party for being “pro-Putin”, a claim they have denied. 

Starmer kicks off first PMQs of 2026 with Russia jibe at Reform

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch in the first Prime Minister’s Questions of the year on Wednesday (7 January). It comes a day after the prime minister pledged to put British boots on the ground in Ukraine once a peace deal is signed with Russia. Sir Keir said that both the UK and France would “establish military hubs across Ukraine” to deter any possible future Russian aggression, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said thousands of troops may be sent to Kyiv. The document, which was signed at a summit in Paris alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, was hailed as “a significant step forward” in bringing about the coalition of the willing to guarantee peace.

Watch live: Starmer faces claims of ‘Brexit betrayal’ in first PMQs of 2026

The Prime Minister said British forces would be placed in ‘military hubs’ in Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts once the war is over.

Starmer to face first PMQs of 2026 after pledging boots on the ground in Ukraine

KANGAR: The legal challenge mounted by three Perlis assemblymen over the status of their seats is shaping up to be another stress test for Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law, exposing significant grey areas surrounding expulsion and the speaker’s discretion in declaring a seat vacant.
Constitutional expert Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said that while the dispute centres on whether the speaker of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly was right to declare the seats vacant following the expulsion of the assemblymen from Pas, namely Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Saad Seman (Chuping). He added the controversy runs deeper, revealing structural weaknesses in the legislation that have yet to be fully tested by the courts.
“The three Pas assemblymen were penalised by their party for signing statutory declarations withdrawing support for the then menteri besar. A provision in the Pas constitution was invoked to terminate their membership,” Shad Saleem said.
“Pas subsequently wrote to the speaker of the Assembly to say that the termination of their membership attracted Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis Constitution.
“The Article stipulates that an assemblyman shall cease to be a member of the Assembly if he ceases to be a member of his political party or coalition. His seat shall become vacant on the date on which the speaker determines that a ‘casual vacancy’ has been established under Clause (3).
“The question is whether this amounts to defection. Is it party hopping leading to a casual vacancy, or is it a forced resignation? In my view, this is not party hopping because the assemblymen say they continue to support the party. It is the former menteri besar whom they did not support,” he told Twentytwo13.
Shad Saleem said the central issue is whether the expulsion of an elected representative by his party can be equated with “ceasing to be a member” of that party under Article 50A of the Perlis Constitution.
“Under the anti-party hopping law, at both federal and state levels, expulsion from a party is not, by itself, a ground for the loss of an Assembly seat,” he said, noting that the law was designed to penalise voluntary defections, not disciplinary action imposed by political parties.
“To rebut the above contention, the three assemblymen could invoke Article 50A(2)(c), which provides that a member of the Assembly shall not cease to be a member of the Assembly solely by reason of expulsion from his political party,” he said.
Shad Saleem said the assemblymen could also argue that a party constitution is not law, citing Article 54 of the Federal Constitution, and that the speaker must adhere to the anti-party hopping law rather than the Pas constitution.
“If the law of the land characterises this as expulsion, termination or forced resignation, then the law of the land must prevail. A party’s constitution cannot override the law,” he said.
He added that the Perlis crisis underscored the urgency of addressing ambiguities in the legislation enacted in 2022, particularly in defining the distinction between expulsion and defection.
Failing to do so, he said, would leave room for conflicting interpretations by political actors and institutional office-holders, undermining the very mischief the 2022 constitutional amendments were designed to prevent.
“The Perlis crisis reinforces the need to remove defects in the anti-party hopping law. First, the distinction between expulsion from a party and ‘ceasing to be its member’ must be clarified, with illustrations.
“Is termination or forced resignation the same as expulsion? Is ceasing to be a member the result of a member’s own actions, such as resigning from the party, joining another party, failure to pay subscriptions, criminal conviction or bankruptcy?” he said.
Shad Saleem’s views echo those of Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz, who said the move by the three Perlis assemblymen to seek judicial review of the speaker’s decision has reignited calls to review the anti-party hopping law.
Commenting further, Shad Saleem, who is also a principal research fellow at Universiti Malaya, said the Perlis political crisis has also brought renewed scrutiny to the scope of the speaker’s discretion in determining whether a casual vacancy has arisen.
While Article 50A confers authority on the speaker to establish such vacancies, he said that discretion cannot be absolute and must be exercised within constitutional limits.
“The speaker’s role will remain important, but it will probably no longer be constitutionally unbounded. On the issue of unfettered, unreviewable discretion, I am reminded of the elegant statement by the late Lord President Raja Azlan Shah in Sri Lempah Enterprises (1979) that ‘every discretion cannot be free from legal restraint; where it is wrongly exercised, it becomes the duty of the courts to intervene’,” he said.
He also cited the recent High Court decision in the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s addendum case, which held that even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in exercising the power of pardon under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, must act in accordance with constitutional prescriptions.
Shad Saleem said that while courts are generally reluctant to interfere in matters of parliamentary proceedings or privileges, judicial review becomes a constitutional duty when jurisdictional or other constitutional issues arise.
He cited the 2015 case involving Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo, where the court upheld the lawmaker’s suspension for contempt of the Dewan Rakyat but ruled that his parliamentary allowance could not be withheld, as it was provided for by law.

Perlis legal challenge exposes grey areas in anti-party hopping law

Projek Sama says the bills on PM term limits, prosecutorial independence, freedom of information and ombudsman oversight must be scrutinised by MPs and the public.

NGO urges select committee scrutiny of reform bills

As Malaysia approaches high-income status and the long-held goal of negara maju, the nation faces a crucial challenge – translating economic growth into a mature, resilient democracy.
This requires a structural overhaul that reinforces institutions, upholds the Constitution, and ensures governance benefits all citizens equally.
Democracy cannot be measured by elections alone. While free and regular elections are essential, they serve only as a gateway to democratic governance.
A mature democracy is defined by the strength of its institutions, the separation of powers, and the willingness of those in power to be constrained by law. Without these safeguards, electoral victories risk becoming instruments of dominance rather than mandates for accountable governance.
The Westminster model adopted by Malaysia has, in practice, placed Parliament in a subordinate position to the executive rather than as an equal partner in governance. The Prime Minister’s Office exercises disproportionate influence over national policy, while Parliament is often reduced to a rubber stamp, validating executive decisions with limited scrutiny.
The Dewan Rakyat, which houses both the executive and backbenchers, naturally dominates legislative discourse. With the ruling coalition commanding a strong majority, opposition MPs are structurally disadvantaged.
This imbalance limits meaningful debate and oversight, diminishing the opposition’s capacity to represent their constituents effectively and weakening Parliament’s role as an institution of accountability.
The Dewan Rakyat comprises 222 Members of Parliament elected to represent more than 34 million citizens. In principle, Parliament is divided into government and opposition – the government governs, while the opposition provides oversight.
In practice, however, these roles are not fulfilled to their fullest extent. Without meaningful institutional power and access to resources, opposition MPs are often unable to scrutinise policy effectively or represent their constituents meaningfully.
This structural imbalance weakens Parliament as a whole. It shifts accountability away from institutions towards public outrage and media pressure – an unsustainable substitute for effective democratic governance.
Resource and representation
It has long been convention that not all MPs receive access to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). For decades, constituency-level resources have been allocated selectively, often along political lines.
The only notable exception occurred during Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s brief tenure as prime minister. Even then, it was a reactive measure driven by post-pandemic recovery needs that made bipartisan cooperation a necessity.
Treating fair fund distribution as an exception rather than a norm diminishes the very purpose of a wakil rakyat. An elected representative who lacks access to basic development resources is effectively incapacitated.
The denial of fair distribution sends a clear subtext to the rakyat – punishment. It implies voters are penalised for choosing the “wrong” party. A mature democracy should never punish voters for exercising their right to elect a representative.
After all, voters in Terengganu – or any opposition-held constituency – are Malaysians before, during and after an election. Access to the Constituency Development Fund is therefore not a privilege for MPs, but a right of the people they represent.
Codifying the ministries
A recurring point of contention during Cabinet formation is the sheer size of the administration. Despite its relatively modest population, Malaysia frequently maintains one of the largest executive branches globally relative to the size of its Parliament.
India’s Lok Sabha, for example, has 543 members, yet its Council of Ministers is constitutionally capped and typically operates with around 80 members. In contrast, Malaysia has at times seen administrations balloon to nearly 70 ministers and deputy ministers. With only 222 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, almost one in three government MPs often holds an executive position.
This bloat is rarely driven by administrative necessity. Cabinet positions are often used as political currency to secure loyalty from coalition partners.
Moving forward, core ministries covering essential services should be permanently codified in the Constitution. This would prevent ministries from being renamed, merged or dissolved without the consent of Parliament and the King.
Such safeguards are necessary because the hidden costs of constant rebranding are often overlooked. Each name change incurs millions in expenditure – from stationery and signage to digital systems and uniforms.
The 2023 Cabinet reshuffle, which split the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry into two entities, is a case in point. While these changes may appear administrative, the duplication of organisational structures and the leasing of new premises drain public funds that could be better spent elsewhere.
Similarly, constant ministry rebranding is often unnecessary. The shift from the Human Resources Ministry’s previous acronym, MHR, to KESUMA reflects a waste of resources and institutional memory. Past examples include the pendidikan–pelajaran cycle, where the ministry oscillated between Kementerian Pendidikan and Pelajaran with no clear benefit.
The Constitution should also cap Cabinet size at a fixed ratio relative to the Dewan Rakyat. Political office must not be traded for temporary loyalty.
A new deal for democracy
Malaysia’s transition towards a high-income nation must be matched by high-value governance. A first-world economy cannot function sustainably within a third-world political structure.
A mature democracy goes beyond elections. It is one where executive power is not abused, Parliament stands firm as a check and balance, and public funding is allocated based on need rather than political allegiance. It is a system where the Cabinet is formed to serve the rakyat, not to appease political warlords.
Structural reforms – from enacting a Constituency Development Fund Act to codifying ministries – are not legal technicalities. They are foundations of political stability.
Failure to institutionalise these reforms risks trapping Malaysia in a cycle of fragile coalitions and partisan retribution.
Success, however, would deliver a nation that is not merely wealthy, but rich in democratic integrity.
Irham Zulkernain hails from Kelantan and is a student of Applied English Language Studies at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.

Malaysia nears high-income status but its politics lags far behind

KANGAR: The decision by three Perlis assemblymen (image) to seek judicial review challenging the State Legislative Assembly speaker’s declaration that their seats are vacant has reignited calls for a review of the anti-party hopping law.
Constitutional expert Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz said the Perlis political crisis highlights the need for the government and political parties to recalibrate the balance between the powers of legislative speakers and the provisions of the anti-party hopping law.
The International Islamic University Malaysia law lecturer said the speaker’s authority must be harmonised with the law, particularly in cases involving majority support, as such matters have direct implications for government stability.
“It is the speaker who determines whether a seat is vacant, and the same principles apply in Perlis,” said Shamrahayu.
“Ordinarily, if a political party informs the speaker that an assemblyman is no longer a member or that their membership has been terminated, the speaker takes note and subsequently declares the seat vacant.”
She said this illustrates the breadth of the speaker’s authority, which also extends to electoral matters, including the withdrawal of a by-election notice.
“These powers must be aligned with the anti-party hopping law, particularly where majority support is in question, as this directly affects the position of the menteri besar,” she told Twentytwo13.
On Friday, Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Saad Seman (Chuping) confirmed that they had filed a judicial review to contest the declaration that their seats were vacant.
“We respect the views of the honourable speaker. However, with due respect, we humbly contend that the said view is erroneous, as it constitutes an action taken beyond the scope of the powers vested in the office,” the trio said in a joint statement.
They said an originating summons had been filed against the speaker of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly as the first defendant and the assembly as the second defendant, seeking a declaration that the decision was ultra vires, null, invalid and defective.
The three assemblymen were expelled by Pas on Dec 24 after they, together with five Bersatu assemblymen, signed statutory declarations withdrawing their support for then menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, who resigned a day later citing health reasons.
Pas claimed the assemblymen had lost their party membership, prompting Perlis Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan to announce that the seats were vacated pursuant to Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis State Constitution (Amendment) Enactment 2022.
However, on Wednesday, Rus’sele withdrew a notice to the Election Commission calling for by-elections for the three seats.
The reversal followed assurances from Pas that it remained committed to supporting the Perlis state government under Perikatan Nasional (PN). Rus’sele said the stability of the state administration was unaffected, as PN continued to command a strong majority with 11 of the 15 seats in the assembly.
Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law, enacted through constitutional amendments in 2022 under Article 49A, was introduced to discourage elected representatives from switching parties by vacating their seats and triggering by-elections if they resign, join another party or are expelled.
While the law aims to preserve voter mandates and political stability, it does not prevent entire parties from switching coalitions, creating potential legal grey areas – particularly in cases involving expelled lawmakers who retain their seats.
The legislation was tested in 2024 when Bersatu sacked six of its MPs for supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government.
Bersatu urged the Dewan Rakyat speaker to declare the seats vacant, but in July that year, Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul ruled that the MPs could retain their seats, citing constitutional and procedural defects in Bersatu’s amended party rules.
By contrast, a month earlier, the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly speaker declared the Nenggiri seat vacant after Bersatu expelled its assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, triggering a by-election that Barisan Nasional won in August 2024.
Mohd Azizi, who is also the Machang MP, is among the six Bersatu lawmakers sacked by the party for supporting Anwar.
Shamrahayu said that while the three Perlis assemblymen were entitled to seek judicial review, the strength of their case remained uncertain, particularly as the question of whether a seat is vacant involves the interpretation of party constitutions and the powers of the legislative assembly.
She cited a Court of Appeal ruling in August last year, which unanimously dismissed Bersatu’s appeal against the High Court’s refusal to grant leave to challenge the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s decision not to vacate the seats of four Sabah MPs who had left the party.
The appellate court ruled that the speaker was protected under Article 63(1) of the Federal Constitution and that the courts lacked jurisdiction to question such decisions, in line with binding Federal Court precedent.
“In the Dewan Rakyat case, Bersatu argued that the speaker should not interpret party constitutions and that such interpretation should be left to the courts,” she said.
“Based on legal precedent, the court may decline to take cognisance of the case, as it concerns the internal affairs of a legislative body and is regarded as a political question rather than a judicial one.”
“The key issue is whether the court will depart from earlier rulings. In my view, courts generally place significant weight on precedent.”
Drawing lessons from developments in Kelantan, Parliament and now Perlis, she said a comprehensive review should be undertaken to strengthen the law in order to safeguard governmental stability at both state and federal levels.
She cautioned that despite Pas’ pledge of support for the new Perlis state administration, risks remain of legislative gridlock should fractures emerge within the coalition and the government lose its simple majority.
“Legally, however, there is room for discretion. If a vacancy disrupts the functioning of the assembly, a by-election should be held,” she said.
“Ultimately, these decisions lie with the speaker, and it is hoped that whatever course is taken will not undermine democratic governance in the state of Perlis.”

Review anti-party hopping law, says expert after Perlis assemblymen go to court over vacant seats

JANUARY 3 — Three years ago in 2022, I wrote of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul confirming that he had rec...

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