States and federal territories of Malaysia

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The states and federal territories of Malaysia are the principal administrative divisions of Malaysia. Malaysia is a federation comprising thirteen states (Negeri) and three federal territories (Wilayah Persekutuan).

The states and federal territories

Eleven states and two federal territories are located on the Malay Peninsula, collectively called Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia) or West Malaysia. Two states are on the island of Borneo, and the remaining one federal territory consists of islands offshore of Borneo; they are collectively referred to as East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo.

Flag Emblem State/Federal Territory Capital Royal Capital Population[1] Area (km²)[2] Population density (per km²)[2] Licence plate prefix Phone area code Abbreviation ISO FIPS Part Head of state
Flag of Kuala Lumpur
Seal of Kuala Lumpur
 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur - 1,627,172 243 6696 W 03 KUL MY-14 Peninsular Malaysia -
Flag of Labuan
Seal of Labuan
 Federal Territory of Labuan Victoria - 85,272 91 937 L 087 LBN MY-15 MY15 East Malaysia -
Flag of Putrajaya
Seal of Putrajaya
 Federal Territory of Putrajaya Putrajaya - 67,964 49 1387 Putrajaya 03 PJY MY-16 Peninsular Malaysia -
Flag of Johor
Coat of arms of Johor
 Johor Darul Takzim Johor Bahru Muar 3,233,434 19,210 168 J 07, 06 (Muar & Ledang) JHR MY-01 MY01 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Kedah
Coat of arms of Kedah
 Kedah Darul Aman Alor Setar Anak Bukit 1,890,098 9,500 199 K 04 KDH MY-02 MY02 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Kelantan
Coat of arms of Kelantan
 Kelantan Darul Naim Kota Bharu Kota Bharu 1,459,994 15,099 97 D 09 KTN MY-03 MY03 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Malacca
Coat of arms of Malacca
 Malacca Malacca City - 788,706 1,664 474 M 06 MLK MY-04 MY04 Peninsular Malaysia Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor)
Flag of Negeri Sembilan
Coat of arms of Negeri Sembilan
 Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Seremban Seri Menanti 997,071 6,686 149 N 06 NSN MY-05 MY05 Peninsular Malaysia Yamtuan Besar (Yang di-Pertuan Besar)
Flag of Pahang
Coat of arms of Pahang
 Pahang Darul Makmur Kuantan Pekan 1,443,365 36,137 40 C 09, 03 (Genting), 05 (Cameron) PHG MY-06 MY06 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Perak
Coat of arms of Perak
 Perak Darul Ridzuan Ipoh Kuala Kangsar 2,258,428 21,035 107 A 05 PRK MY-08 MY07 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Perlis
Coat of arms of Perlis
 Perlis Indera Kayangan Kangar Arau 227,025 821 277 R 04 PLS MY-09 MY08 Peninsular Malaysia Raja
Flag of Penang
Coat of arms of Penang
 Penang George Town - 1,520,143 1,048 1451 P 04 PNG MY-07 MY09 Peninsular Malaysia Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor)
Flag of Sabah
Coat of arms of Sabah
 Sabah Kota Kinabalu - 3,120,040 73,631 42 S 087-089 SBH MY-12 MY16 East Malaysia Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor)
Flag of Sarawak
Coat of arms of Sarawak
 Sarawak Kuching - 2,420,009 124,450 19 Q 081-086 SWK MY-13 MY11 East Malaysia Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor)
Flag of Selangor
Coat of arms of Selangor
 Selangor Darul Ehsan Shah Alam Klang 5,411,324 8,104 668 B 03 SGR MY-10 MY12 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan
Flag of Terengganu
Coat of arms of Terengganu
 Terengganu Darul Iman Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu 1,015,776 13,035 78 T 09 TRG MY-11 MY13 Peninsular Malaysia Sultan

Governance

The governance of the states is divided between the federal government and the state governments, while the federal territories are directly administered by the federal government.[3] The specific responsibilities of the federal and the state governments are listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of Malaysia. Theoretically, any matter not set out in the Ninth Schedule can be legislated on by the individual states. However, legal scholars generally view this as a "pauper's bequest" because of the large scope of the matters listed in the Ninth Schedule. The courts themselves have generally favoured a broad interpretation of the language of the Ninth Schedule, thus limiting the number of possible subjects not covered. The Ninth Schedule specifically lists the following matters as those that can only be legislated on by the states: land tenure, the Islamic religion, and local government.[4]

The 13 states are based on historical Malay kingdoms, and 9 of the 13 states, known as the Malay states, each has a hereditary ruler as titular head of state and an executive Chief Minister or Menteri Besar as politically responsible head of government. The rulers of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu are styled Sultans. Negeri Sembilan's elective ruler holds the title of Yamtuan Besar, whereas the ruler of Perlis is titled Raja. The federal head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (commonly referred to as "King" in English) is elected (de facto rotated) among the nine rulers to serve a 5-year term.[5] Former British settlements and crown colonies of Penang and Malacca (both peninsular) and Sabah and Sarawak (both on Borneo) each have a titular Governor (styled Yang di-Pertua Negeri) appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and an executive Chief Minister or Ketua Menteri.

Sabah and Sarawak have additional powers as part of the terms when they joined Malaysia, such as immigration controls. They have separate immigration policies and controls and a unique residency status.[6] Passports are required even for Peninsular Malaysians for travelling between either state and Peninsular Malaysia, or between the two states, however those who are on social/business visits up to three months are allowed to produce a MyKad or birth certificate and obtain a special printout form in lieu of a passport.

Each state has a unicameral legislature called Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN, State Assembly). Members of DUN are elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on population. The state leader of the majority party in DUN is usually appointed Chief Minister by the Ruler or Governor. The term of DUN members is five years unless the assembly is dissolved earlier by the Ruler or Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. Usually, DUN of the states in Peninsular Malaysia are dissolved in conjunction with the dissolution of the federal parliament, to have state elections running concurrently with the parliamentary election. However, Rulers and Governors hold discretionary powers in withholding consent to dissolve the DUN. Each state sends two senators elected by the DUN to the Dewan Negara (Senate), the upper house of the federal parliament.

The Parliament of Malaysia is permitted to legislate on issues of land, Islamic religion and local government to provide for a uniform law between different states, or on the request of the state assembly concerned. The law in question must also be passed by the state assembly as well, except in the case of certain land law-related subjects. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated on at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations.[7] Each state is further divided into districts, which are then divided into mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak districts are grouped into "Divisions".[8]

The 3 federal territories were formed for different purposes: Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, Putrajaya is the administrative centre of the federal government, and Labuan serves as an offshore financial centre. Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were carved out of Selangor, while Labuan was ceded by Sabah. The territories fall under the purview of the Ministry of the Federal Territories, and the Parliament of Malaysia legislates on all matters concerning the territories. Each federal territory elects representatives from single-member constituencies drawn based on population to the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) of the Parliament. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints senators to represent the territories in the Dewan Negara; Kuala Lumpur has two senators, while Putrajaya and Labuan each has one.

The local governments for the territories varies: Kuala Lumpur is administered by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur), headed by an appointed mayor (Datuk Bandar), while Putrajaya is administered by the Putrajaya Corporation (Perbadanan Putrajaya) and Labuan by the Labuan Corporation (Perbadanan Labuan); each corporation is headed by a chairman.

Sabah and Sarawak

The states of Sabah and Sarawak merged with Malaya pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement in 1963 to form the independent state of Malaysia.[9] Representatives from Sabah and Sarawak demanded a higher degree of autonomy as part of the bargain which were included in the 20-point agreement and 18-point agreement respectively. It has also been argued that Sabah and Sarawak have equal status to that of Malaya as a whole, however the Constitution of Malaysia have listed both these entities as merely 2 of the 13 states of Malaysia,[9] suggesting an equal status with the states of Malaya. Sabah and Sarawak still retains a relatively higher degree of autonomy compared to Peninsular states in areas such as immigration, some control over state revenue and legislative power over land and local government.[9]

Singapore and Brunei

 Singapore was a Malaysian state from the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 until it separated from the Federation on 9 August 1965.

 Brunei was invited to join the Federation but decided not to at the end due to several issues, such as the status of the Sultan within Malaysia, division of Bruneian oil royalties, and pressure from opposition groups which amounted to the Brunei Revolt.

See also

Administrative divisions:

Notes

  1. ^ The code MY10 is not used in FIPS 10-4 but was used for FIPS 10-3[10] (for Sabah)
  2. ^ Territories named in official language for both FIPS 10-4 and ISO 3166-2:MY code lists[11]
  3. ^ Wilayah Persekutuan defined as the territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Used by FIPS only

References

  1. ↑ "Laporan Kiraan Permulaan 2010". Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia. p. iv. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Laporan Kiraan Permulaan 2010". Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia. p. 27. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Federal Territories and State Governments". Malaysia.gov.my. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Wu, Min Aun & Hickling, R. H. (2003). Hickling's Malaysian Public Law, pp. 64–65. Petaling Jaya: Pearson Malaysia. ISBN 983-74-2518-0.
  5. ↑ "Malaysia". State.gov. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "NRD: 'H' indicates holder is a Sabahan | Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia". Dailyexpress.com.my. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  7. ↑ Wu, Min Aun; Hickling, R H (2003). Hickling's Malaysian public law. Pearson Malaysia. pp. 65–66. ISBN 983-74-2518-0.
  8. ↑ "Malaysia Districts". Statoids.com. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Shad Saleem Faruqi (8 September 2010). "From Malaya to Malaysia". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  10. ↑ USAid Geocode
  11. ↑ MaxMind GeoIP

External links