The Dewan Negara (Senate) consists of
70 members.
The membership of the Senate is made up of
two categories:-
26 members elected by the State Legislative Assembly to represent
13 states (each state represented by two members).
44 members appointed by His Majesty the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong
on the advice of the Prime Minister, including two members
from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and one member
each from the Federal Territory of Labuan and Putra Jaya.
To be eligible as a member, a person must:-
- be a Malaysian citizen;
- be not less than 30 years old;
- be of sound mind;
- not be an undischarged bankrupt; and
- not have a criminal record.
The tenure of office is a three-year term
for a maximum of two terms, applicable to both federal and
state appointments.
The life of the Senate is not affected by
the dissolution of Parliament. Senators are drawn from the
ranks of persons who have rendered distinguished public services
or have achieved distinction in the professions, commerce,
industry, agriculture, cultural activities or social service
or are representatives of a racial minority or are capable
of representing the interests of aborigines.
Every
member, before taking his seat in the Senate, must take the
prescribed oath before the President of the Senate. By the
oath, the members swear or affirm that they will faithfully
discharge their duty as members to the best of their ability,
to bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia and to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution. |
