Malaysia practices Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy and His Majesty The King as the Paramount Ruler. The Federal Constitution was legislated with the setting up of conditions for this system to exist. One of the characteristic of Parliament Democracy is the separation of powers into three parts which are the Legislative, the Judiciary and the Executive.
Malaysia is also a country that practices a system of Democracy based on the Federation system. In accordance to this the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johore, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah have agreed to the concept of forming Malaysia
Each state involved has surrendered part of its power such as financial, defense, education, foreign affairs and others, as stated in the Malaysian Constitution, which is administered by the Central Government. There are matters that are under the power of the state and each state administers the power over those matters.
As a country with a Constitutional Monarchy, it is therefore allocated by the Constitution the institutions of His Majesty The King as the Paramount Ruler, the hereditary rulers of the nine states and the Council of Malay Rulers. His Majesty The King has the power to safeguard the customs and traditions of the Malay people and the administration of the Islamic religion in each state. His Majesty The King is the Head of the Islamic religion for the states of Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territories.
His Majesty The King is the Highest Commander of the Armed Forces. His Majesty The King carries out his duties under the Constitution under the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Meanwhile, the hereditary rulers are Head of State of his own state and carry out their duties under the advice of their Menteri Besar.
The Structure of the Malaysian Parliament
The Malaysian Parliament is divided into three components:-
1. His Majesty The King, the Paramount Ruler
2. Senate
3. House of Representatives
History of the Parliament Building
In December 1959, an area near the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens was chosen as the site on which to build the Parliament Building Complex, a building that symbolizes the democratic principles that are practiced. These principles are the rights and responsibilities of the citizens to rule their own country, the freedom of each citizen to voice his or her own opinions, the freedom to practice his or her own religion, equal rights before the law and the right to own properties.
Thus in September 1962, a hill about 61 metres above the sea level was leveled to build this glorious building. The RM18 million-complex was envisioned by Tuanku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.
The placement of the building's foundation stone was done by the third Paramount Ruler, His Majesty The King, the Malay Federation, Tuanku Syed Putra Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail D.S.M, S.M.N. DK (BRUNEI) on 31 August 1962, which marked the beginning of the construction of the building. On 21 November 1963, His Highness was again given the honour to officiate the opening of the building.
The complex consists of two main structures:-
a. The Main Building (three storey)
b. The Tower (17 storey)
The Main Building (three storey)
This three-storey building is also called as the Main Building. The building houses the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Last updated: 23 January 2013 | Hits: 99163