Prime Minister of Malaysia Perdana Menteri Malaysia |
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Logo of the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia
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Government of Malaysia Prime Minister's Department |
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Style | Yang Amat Berhormat (The Most Honourable) |
Member of | Cabinet |
Reports to | Parliament |
Residence | Seri Perdana |
Seat | Perdana Putra, Putrajaya |
Appointer | Yang di-Pertuan Agong |
Term length | While commanding the confidence of the lower house of Parliament with General Elections held no more than five years apart |
Constituting instrument | Federal Constitution of Malaysia |
Inaugural holder | Tunku Abdul Rahman |
Formation | 31 August 1957 |
Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia |
Salary | MYR22,826.65 monthly |
Website | www |
The Prime Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia) is the chairman of the Cabinet and thus head of government for Malaysia, charged with advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution. It is in practice, the most powerful political position in Malaysia. As stated in the federal constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall select as Prime Minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Representatives; this individual is typically the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber.
The Prime Minister has always been from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) part of Barisan Nasional (previously Alliance) since independence. Tunku Abdul Rahman was the Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya, restyled to Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 after the formation of Malaysia. Federation of Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957.
The 6th and current prime minister is Najib Razak, who took office on 3 April 2009.
According to the federal constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Prime Minister to preside over the Cabinet and requires such Prime Minister to be a member of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House and must not a Malaysian citizen by naturalisation or by registration. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the Prime Minister's advice shall appoint other Ministers from either Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara.