NOTE 5: Executive

In general: ______________________________________________________

What are the components of the executive?

1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King)

head of state which has no Sultan.

has 4 major roles in the executive:

____________________________
o
o
o

all government affairs are done in his name

he should act according to the advice given to him by the Cabinet or a
minister acting under the authority of the Cabinet
he must act according to the advice when given

_______________________________
o
o

may act in his discretion

as a head of a parliamentary democratic country, he should follow
convention (agreed/normal practice), i.e. he appoints the Member of
Parliament whom he feels will get majority support in the Dewan Rakyat
(normally it is the head of the ruling party)

__________________________________
o
o

on the advice of the Prime Minister

can be appointed from members of both Houses

___________________________________________________
o
o

may act in his discretion

request made by the Prime Minister

The Cabinet

Started with the Member System in 1951 as the first cabinet-like structure.
after the 1955 General Election, Tunku Abdul Rahman was appointed as the Chief
Minister of Malaya and formed his cabinet.

Ministers are appointed by the ____________ with advice from the Prime
Minister. Ministers can be appointed from members of both Houses.
Deputy Ministers are appointed by the ________________ with advice from the
Prime Minister. Deputy Ministers can be appointed from members of both
Houses.
Parliamentary Secretaries are appointed by the ____________________. They
assist the Ministers and Deputy Ministers and has the same authority as them.
Ministers have collective responsibility toward decisions made by the Cabinet.
Political Secretaries are appointed by the Prime Ministers. They need not be a
member of either House. Their duties are determined by the Cabinet and usually
work under Ministers.
The Cabinet is seen as the management body that gives directives.
Implementation is done by staff from various ministries, departments and
agencies.
Each ministry has its own Secretary as the head of the government officers in that
ministry.

Prime Minister

so far Malaysia has had five Prime Ministers :

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Tunku Abdul Rahman from 1957 to 1970

Tun Abdul Razak from 1970 to 1976
Tun Hussein Onn from 1976 to 1981
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from 1981 t0 2003
Dato Seri Abdullah from 2003 till 2009
Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak-from 2009- till present

the Prime Minister hold several positions in and out of the government that gives
him authority and influence :

_____________________________.
o
o

he has the power to choose anybody to be appointed as a minister by the

King.
he is the chairman of the cabinet meeting (every Wednesday). Therefore
he can decide and control the agenda. Likewise, he can also control the
discussions during the meeting.

_____________________________.
o
o

Leads the administration that decides on policies of the government.

Plays an important role to promote policies and programs of the
government.

 ___________________________
o
o

The Prime Minister always has been the leader of the party that wins the
elections.
has the power to :

a. Decide who will become a candidate in the election.

b. plays an important role in deciding policies and programs in the partys
manifesto
c. Decide when to request to the King for the Parliament to be dissolved.
o
o
o

He can choose anybody to be nominated as the 40 members of the Senate

that are appointed by the King.
Appoint and decide the number of political secretaries.
Appoint somebody to any body / company which the government has
interest in it.

__________________________________
o
o
o
o

relations with foreign countries.

decide which country to establish relations
decide status of representation in a country
determine Malaysias role in the international arena