Government Policies Module 5 — 07 01 L-030

Government Policies Module 5 - 07. 01 L-030 -3(5) Putrajaya Boulevard (Artist Impression) Year 2025 Prepared by: Eng Kok Siong Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved

Deliver Information on Parliamentary Democracy Some Definitions of Democracy • The political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives • A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them • Majority rule: the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group Parliamentary Democracy Slide 2

The Constitution • The Malaysian Constitution is derived from the constitution of the Federation of Malaya which was promulgated on Merdeka Day, 31 August 1957. Features • Yang Di. Pertuan Agong is elected as its state head for a term of five years. • Consists of Senate (Dewan Rakyat) 69 members. • A House of Representatives. • Elections to the Lower House is held every 5 years. Parliamentary Democracy Slide 3

Parliament Seating Plan Parliamentary Democracy Slide 4

Officers of Parliament Functions of the Speaker include: • To be responsible for maintaining order in the House; • To ensure that relevancy is observed during debates; • To interpret the Standing Orders in case of disputes; and • To certify money bills before such bills are transmitted to the Dewan Rakyat List of Recent Yang de-Pertua Dewan Rakyat: Y. A. Bhg. Tun Dato' Seri Dr. Mohamed Zahir bin Haji Ismail 14. 06. 1982 - 14. 10. 2004 YB Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Ramli bin Ngah Talib 22. 11. 2004 - 27. 04. 2008 YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama Pandikar Amin bin Haji Mulia 28. 04. 2008 - Present Parliamentary Democracy Slide 5

Officers of Parliament Deputy Speaker: • Only has 2 Deputy Speakers who are members of the Dewan Rakyat. • To assist the speakers in matters pertaining to the sitting of the House. Clerk: • Is the chief administrative officer of Parliament and had throughout knowledge of parliamentary practice and procedure. • Has custody of all House record, endorses Bills sent to the Senate and reads whatever is required in the House. Deputy Clerk: • Assist in Clerk of Parliament in administrative matters. Sergeant-at-Arms: • Responsible for maintenance of order. Parliamentary Democracy Slide 6

Parliamentary Procedure Dress: • Only in lounge suit of in “National Dress” Language: • Since the passing of the National Language Act in September 1967, Bahasa Melayu has become the official language of the Parliament. Quorum: • Dewan Rakyat has 192 members, excluding Mr. Speaker, the quorum of the House is 26. • Absent members are not allowed to vote. Decisions of Parliament: • Makes decisions by a simple majority except in the case of amendments to the Constitution or a Bill, a two-third majority is required. Parliamentary Democracy Slide 7

Parliamentary Procedure Order in House: • Mr. Speaker has the responsibility to ensure that members comply with the rules of the House and conduct themselves in a proper manner. Questions: • Cover the whole administration of the country. • Can be divided into written and oral. • A member may not ask more than 20 questions for oral reply and 5 written questions in any one meeting. Rule of Debate: • A member may not speak until called upon to do so by Speaker. Order of Business: • The House sits from 2. 30 p. m. until 6. 30 p. m. Parliamentary Democracy Slide 8

Legislative Procedures Bills: • A proposed law submitted to parliament for its approval. • May be first introduced in either the House or the Senate, but money bills must be introduced in the House by a minister. 4 types of Bills: • Private member’s Bills • Private Bills • Hybrid Bills • Public Bills Parliamentary Democracy Slide 9

Class Activity Instructions: Get into a group of 4 or 5 Download Class Activity File from the URL given Discuss for the answer Sent a representative for presentation Parliamentary Democracy Slide 10