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Sessions courts and magistrates’ courts are located in the main cities and towns throughout the country. The sessions courts are presided over by a judge and have limited jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. The magistrates’ courts also hear civil and criminal cases, with more limited jurisdiction. All judges are appointed by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister, and magistrates by the state authority on the advice of the chief judge. Government and politics Last elections: 5 May 2013 Next elections: 2018 Head of State: Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah (2011–) Head of Government: Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak Ruling party: National Front (Barisan Nasional) In his closing speech to the United Malays’ National Organisation (UMNO) annual congress in June 2002, 76- year-old Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his retirement, but subsequently agreed to continue as Prime Minister until October 2003, when his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, duly succeeded him as UMNO leader and Prime Minister. In an early general election in March 2004, the ruling UMNO-led National Front coalition received a strong mandate to proceed with reforms proposed by the new Prime Minister, including action against corruption. It took 198 seats in the federal parliament, regaining Terengganu and conceding only one state, Kelantan, by a small margin to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The combined opposition parties won 21 seats, with Democratic Action Party (DAP, 12) ahead of PAS (seven). The Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, became Yang di-Pertuan Agong in December 2006. In the March 2008 elections, the ruling National Front faced a united opposition at both national and state levels. Although it won in seven of the 12 states contested and took 140 of 222 seats – and 50.3 per cent of votes – in the federal parliament, it was National Front’s worst performance since 1969 and the first time the coalition had failed to attain the two-thirds parliamentary majority required to enact constitutional changes. Opposition parties took 82 seats (46.8 per cent of votes). Abdullah was returned as Prime Minister. In April 2008 three opposition parties that had worked together in the election, DAP, PAS and the People’s Justice Party, formed a coalition, Pakatan Rakyat. His ban from politics having expired (imposed in April 1999 following his conviction for corruption), former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was elected to parliament in a by-election in August 2008 and became leader of Pakatan Rakyat. Ma l a y s i a In April 2009 Abdullah stood down as Prime Minister and UMNO leader. His deputy, Najib Razak (the son of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdul Razak), who had been chosen to lead UMNO at the party’s general assembly, was sworn in as Prime Minister. The Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who had previously reigned 1970–75, was chosen as Yang di-Pertuan Agong in December 2011. In national and state parliamentary elections, held on 5 May 2013, the National Front took nine of the 12 states contested, and 133 of the 222 seats – and 47.4 per cent of votes – in the federal parliament, fewer than in 2008 and again short of the two-thirds parliamentary majority required to enact constitutional changes. The remaining 89 federal seats – and 50.9 per cent of votes – were won by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Razak was returned as Prime Minister. Local government Ministry: Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Association: Malaysian Association of Local Governments The Federation of Malaysia comprises three federal territories and 13 states. The federal parliament is responsible for external affairs; defence; internal security; civil and criminal law; citizenship; finance; commerce and industry; shipping; education; health and labour. Each of the 13 states has its own constitution which must be Governance institutions Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 201 Election Commission of Malaysia: www.spr.gov.my Parliament of Malaysia: www.parlimen.gov.my Judicial Appointments Commission: www.jac.gov.my Anti-Corruption Commission: www.sprm.gov.my Office of the Prime Minister: www.pmo.gov.my Attorney-General's Chambers: www.agc.gov.my Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government: www.kpkt.gov.my Ministry of Finance: www.treasury.gov.my Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism: www.kpdnkk.gov.my Ministry of International Trade and Industry: www.miti.gov.my Bank Negara Malaysia: www.bnm.gov.my Bursa Malaysia: www.bursamalaysia.com Standards Malaysia: www.standardsmalaysia.gov.my Securities Commission: www.sc.com.my Communications and Multimedia Commission: www.skmm.gov.my Energy Commission: www.st.gov.my


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