Prime Minister of Malaysia

Prime Minister of Malaysia
Incumbent
Najib Razak

since 3 April 2009
Style Yang Amat Berhormat (The Most Honourable)
Residence Seri Perdana
Appointer Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Term length While commanding the confidence of the House of Representatives
Inaugural holder Abdul Rahman
Formation 31 August 1957
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
Website PM's official website
Malaysia

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Malaysia



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The Prime Minister of 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 on the prime minister's advice. 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.

The current prime minister is Najib Razak.

Contents

Requirements for taking office

According to the constitution, the Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives and command the confidence of the majority members of Dewan Rakyat; citizen of Malaysia but not by naturalization.

The Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers shall take and subscribe in the presence of Yang di-Pertuan Agong the oath of office and allegiance and the oath of secrecy before exercise the functions of the office. The Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers shall not be a member of legislative assembly of any state. The Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament.

Although statutory states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has his discretion in the appointment of the prime minister, the appointment is invariably given to the chief of the dominant party which commanding the most seats in lower house of parliament.

If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.

List of Prime Ministers of Malaysia

      United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)       Alliance Party (AP)       National Front (BN)

Term No. Name
(Constituency)
Picture Took Office Left Office Party Coalition
01 1 Abdul Rahman
MP for Kuala Muda
31 August 1957 19 August 1959 UMNO AP
02 19 August 1959 10 May 1969
03 10 May 1969 22 September 1970
2 Abdul Razak
MP for Pekan
22 September 1970 24 August 1974 UMNO AP
04 24 August 1974 14 January 1976 BN
3 Hussein Onn
MP for Johol Timur
14 January 1976 8 July 1978 UMNO BN
05 8 July 1978 16 July 1981
4 Mahathir Mohamad
MP for Kubang Pasu
16 July 1981 10 May 1982 UMNO BN
06 10 May 1982 3 August 1986
07 3 August 1986 October 1990
08 October 1990 24 April 1995
09 24 April 1995 29 November 1999
10 29 November 1999 31 October 2003
5 Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
MP for Kepala Batas
31 October 2003 21 March 2004 UMNO BN
11 21 March 2004 8 March 2008
12 8 March 2008 3 April 2009
6 Najib Razak
MP for Pekan
3 April 2009 Incumbent UMNO BN

Trivia

The prime minister has been from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) since independence. It is the largest component party of the Barisan Nasional (National Front), which formerly known as the Perikatan (Alliance Party) until the 1969 general election, which forms the government (executive) since independence.

References