An Act is a Bill that has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and been given Royal Assent by His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
After the Opening Ceremony, a motion will be moved that an address expressing the thanks for the Royal Address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong be agreed to by the House. The debate on the motion shall be confined to the policy of the Government as outlined in the Royal Address.
Suspend proceedings for later resumption.
Upon leave being given by the House, a Member may rise at the appointed time to move an adjournment for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance. Written notification of the matter which he wishes to raise must be submitted to the Tuan Yang di-Pertua at least twenty-four hours before the start of the sitting (not including public holidays).
It is literally a motion "That this House is now adjourn" for the Yang di-Pertua to allow a Member to address the House regarding the government administrative affairs and the Minister responsible would reply.
To end a sitting of the House, a Minister may move the motion, "That this House do now adjourn" or any other time that has been set. If the motion is agreed to, the meeting for that day ends and will resume on the next sitting day. Parliament may alternatively adjourn to a specific date in the future or to a date to be fixed.
A speech text of not more than 400 words must be submitted together with the notice for adjournment motion to the Speaker for him/her to approve. Interruptions or clarifications by other members are not allowed during the adjournment speech.
It shall be out of order to anticipate a discussion on matter of a Bill standing on the Order of Business or matter which has been made known the date it will be debated.
Each numbered paragraph in the Federal Constitution is referred to as an “Article”. This corresponds to a “section” in the Members of Parliament Act and a “clause” in a Bill.
A Member who is not a Minister or Deputy Minister. It was originally a practice in the UK House of Commons where such Members usually occupy a seat in the back rows of the Chamber.
Electronic bells are rung to signal the commencement of a sitting to call Members into the Chamber. During a sitting, the bells are rung to call Members for a vote in a division or to form a quorum.
A Bill before the House may be agreed to with certain changes. These changes are known as amendments. They are made by moving an amendment to the Bill or motion, to add or delete certain words and substitute them with others.
A by-election may be held during a term of Parliament when a seat becomes vacant due to reasons other than the dissolution of the Parliament.
The executive branch of Malaysian Government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are selected from Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The ministers were appointed by The Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The term refers to the Chair of the House or the Chair of the Committee. Tuan Yang di-Pertua occupies the Chair of the House and the Chairman sits in the Chair of the Committee. Members are required to address all speeches and remarks “to the Chair” and not to any individual Member.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua or the Deputy assumes the role of Chairman when the House sits in Committee level. When Tuan Yang di-Pertua assumes the role of Chairman, the term “Mr Chairman” is used when chairing the meeting.
The hall where Parliament holds its sittings.
Each numbered paragraph in a Bill is referred to as a clause.
Bills and motions proposed for decision in Parliament are determined by a majority vote. The vote is usually carried out by a collection of voices; "Ayes" and "Noes".
At the end of a debate, the Speaker will put the question and invite "Those in favour say 'Aye'". Members supporting the motion will comply. He then continues, "Those against say 'No'", and those who are not in favour of the motion express their votes.
Based on the strength of the respective responses, the Speaker will state his opinion and say, “The Ayes have it” and vice versa if more voices disagree.
Members of the Committee of Selection will be elected at the beginning of every session to carry out responsibilities stipulated by the Standing Orders.
The Committee of Selection has to notify the Senate when a member becomes a member of a particular Committee by issuing a statement.
After the Second Reading of a Bill, the whole Parliament would enter a Committee Stage whereby each clause of the Bill will be dealt with in detail.
However, in the Senate, the Money Bills will not pass through the Committee Stage and will proceed straight to the Third Reading.
A system of government in which a country is ruled by a King according to provisions in the Constitution.
Malaysia practices Parliamentary Democracy under the Constitutional Monarchy government.
Division is a vote where each Member will be asked which party to vote. Division is held when the votes taken by voices were challenged by eight or more than eight Senators for the Senate, and fifteen or more than fifteen Members for the House of Representatives rise to call for a division.
A process for electing citizens to Parliament. It can take the form of a general election or by-election. A general election is held upon the dissolution of Parliament, and a by-election may be held during a term of Parliament when a seat becomes vacant.
An official list of the citizens in a particular parliamentary constituency who have registered and are eligible to vote in an election.
An official document that cannot be published until it is tabled in Parliament.
A formal introduction of a Bill to the House of Representatives which is read formally, briefly while no debates are allowed upon it.
"Gazette" includes the Federal Official Gazette published in electronic or other form by way of the Government's order including the official Gazette of any State.
The winning party will form a government to govern the country.
If a Member of the House is having the floor, it means the Member is speaking and others can only interject if he/she gives way.
The subject title in the list of purposes of expenditure.
Referring to the Meetings of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Committee advises the Chairman on all matters related to all the conveniences, services and privileges of the House.
The Committee has the power to assemble or conduct meetings as a Joint Committee with the House Committee.
The House of Representatives comprises of the elected Members of Parliament through election which is held every five years.
The number of Members of Parliament now is 222 representing their respective parliamentary constituencies.
A situation in which no particular political party or pre-existing coalition (also known as an alliance or bloc) has an absolute majority members or seats in the Parliament.
A Hybrid Bill is a Bill that affects both private and public matters. In other words, there is both a widespread public, possibly national interests, but also a specific effect on particular individuals and organisations who may be adversely affected.
A Member of Parliament who does not belong to a political party.
The act of a Member who speaks (interrupting) without permission while another member is debating.
Leader of the House is a Member elected to head the Government (Prime Minister).
A Member among the Opposition must be elected to become an Opposition Leader and certified by the Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Legislation is a law or a set of laws that have been passed by Parliament. The word is also used to describe the act of enacting a new law.
A regalia that has been presented by the Malay Rulers which symbolise the power of the Monarch and the authority of Parliament. Its absence will affect the legitimacy of both Houses to convene for sitting.
Each proposed motion in the House shall be decided with simple majority through collection of voices.
*see also Divisions
The Member responsible for a matter, for example, a motion or a Bill, before the House. He moves the motion and makes the opening speech to begin debate and the reply to round it up.
In the case of a Government Bill, he would normally be the Minister holding the relevant portfolio.
An elected Member of Parliament represents a constituency and gains his seat in the House by winning at a general election that is conducted every five years.
Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong give a royal address before the House during the Opening Ceremony of Parliament.
A message to inform that a Bill has proceed to Third Reading and approved by the House.
A member may direct a question to the Minister who is responsible of the portfolio. This session will take 30 minutes on every Tuesday and Thursday before the Question Time.
A Bill which provides for the use of a sum from the Consolidated Fund for service that year and to allocate that sum for service for that year.
A proposal to the House to make something or ordered something to be done or expressing an opinion on a matter.
A declaration from the Chair identifying a Member who has disregard the House. The member will need to leave the House immediately.
Prior notice is required to be given before a sitting. For example, the Setiausaha will need to inform all Members on the dates of the House session in writing at least 28 days before it starts.
A document informing Members of questions, Bills, motions or other business introduced in the House for future sittings.
The official language of the House is Bahasa Malaysia but English can be used with permission from the Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
The verbatim record of the proceedings in Parliament or in Committee. The verbatim reports are published as the Official Report.
*see also Hansard
Parliamentary jargon for the official report of Parliamentary proceedings. Hansard is the edited verbatim report of proceedings for both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
A formal ceremony which marks the commencement of a new Parliament or a new session of Parliament. The highlight of the ceremony is the Royal Address.
At the end of the Address, the House stands adjourned and commencing the debate on the Royal Address next day.
A political party or parties in Parliament which are not the Government.
Proper action or conduct in meetings of the House or Committees.
The sequence in which the agenda of the House is set down. The House may decide to proceed to any particular business out of the regular order.
A public document containing the agenda for the day’s sitting of the House. It includes questions for oral answers, orders of the day, motions and bills to be introduced in the House.
The Parliament is the supreme Legislative Authority of the nation consisting of His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The primary function of the Parliament is to pass laws for the country. The maximum term of a Parliament is five years.
A defined geographical area of which the electorate is represented by a seat. A representative who won the election for a parliamentary constituency will occupy the parliamentary seat for the constituency in the House of Representatives.
The border of parliamentary constituency is determined by the Election Commission.
A Member of Parliament may interrupt another Member’s speech briefly to seek clarification, provided the Member of the floor is willing to give way and allow the clarification to be made.
Members may also explain some part of his speech which has been misunderstood or misinterpreted.
A Bill, which is intended to affect or benefit some particular person, association, or corporate body.
The privileges granted to both Houses during the parliamentary proceedings, where the validity of any proceedings in both Houses shall not be questioned in any court.
Prorogue is the act of terminating a Parliament session to be replaced with next session.
A Select Committee which examines various accounts of the Government showing the appropriation of funds granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure, as well as other accounts laid before Parliament together with the Auditor-General’s Report.
A Bill dealing with public general interests.
Public Gallery is a place for the visitors to observe the proceedings of the Parliament.
Questions refer to queries directed at Ministers or other Members, either orally during Question For Oral Answers or in writing.
The quorum of the House and of a Committee of the whole House shall consist as follows:
1) The Senate shall consist of ten Senators, excluding the Chair.
2) The House of Representatives shall consist of twenty-six members excluding the Chair.
3) The Special Chamber shall consist of three members including the Chair
A judgement made by Tuan Yang di-Pertua about the way the rules of the House should be applied or interpreted. A ruling may be required, for instance, when a new set of circumstances arises for which there are no clear precedents to follow.
Select committees are small groups of Members of Parliament that are set up to investigate in detail or scrutinise a specific issue. They may call in officials and experts for questioning and can demand information from the Government. Select committees publish their findings in a report and the Government is expected to respond to any recommendations that are made.
The Serjeant-at-Arms is responsible for maintaining order in the Chamber. The Serjeant acts on the direction of the Tuan Yang di-Pertua and may remove any person from the Chamber, if ordered to do so.
The Serjeant is the custodian of the Mace and performs a ceremonial function as the bearer of the Mace during the Tuan Yang di-Pertua procession.
Parliamentary Session began from the opening of Parliament until it is prorogued. Normally, Parliamentary sessions start in March and end in December.
*see also Prorogue
A team of Members from the Opposition who act as the spokesperson of the Opposition on key portfolios of the Government. Each member of the shadow cabinet is appointed to lead on a specific policy area for their party and to question and challenge their counterpart in the Cabinet.
In this way the Official Opposition seeks to present itself as an alternative government-in-waiting.
The short title of an Act is the name by which an Act of Parliament is commonly known and cited, contrasting with the long title which is much more descriptive but is too long to be of use in most purposes.
Simultaneous interpreters convert what is said in real-time.
The official language of the House is Bahasa Malaysia. Therefore, when foreign visitors are present to observe the debate, a simultaneous interpretation service is provided by the Simultaneous Interpreter to translate from Bahasa Malaysia to English.
Sitting refers to the meeting in each day. The time of sitting at present is from Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 5.30 pm and the House may extend if a Motion to extend the meeting is agreed.
Special Chamber has been set up to allow matters of national importance or urgency to be discussed without interrupting the normal proceedings of the House of Representatives. It convenes for the first time on 16 May 2016.
A Select Committee set up to review certain issues and to table it to the House. It shall be appointed by order of the House. The Members may be nominated by the Committee of Selection.
A special sitting held to debate on matters of public interest. This sitting is held outside of the regular sitting of the House.
Rules approved by the House to regulate its proceedings. These orders remain in force until they are amended or repealed by the House. They may be suspended by resolution either temporarily or for a particular purpose.
A committee set up to review from time to time every provision in the Standing Orders to determine whether to amend, add or repeal that provision and to report it to the House.
A statute is an Act of Parliament: a law.
Any matters on trial by the courts, cannot be debated by the House because it may influence the outcome of the judgement.
After the Minister/Deputy Minister has replied to the original question during Questions for Oral Answers session, a Member may ask a supplementary question related to the original question.
A bill proposed by the Government to apply a sum from the Consolidated Fund for the service of that particular year to meet the purpose of development and administration of the country.
A Member of the House who supports a motion.
A withdrawal, ordered by the Tuan Yang di-Pertua, of a Member whose conduct are in contempt of the House and the authority of the Yang di-Pertua.
The House shall not proceed upon any Bill, amendment, motion or petition, if the Tuan Yang di-Pertua thinks it would suspend any Standing Orders of the House.
Each Members are to take The Oath as set out in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution followed by the Members signing the book that is to be kept by the Setiausaha.
For Members of the Senate, the term of office is 3 years and a Senator may only be re-appointed once, consecutively or non-consecutively.
For Members of the House of Representatives, a Member will occupy a seat for the period of 5 years as long as the Parliament is not dissolved or the Member is disqualified.
The Senate is comprised of Members of Parliament who are also known as Senators. They were chosen among those who had achieved excellence in their respective professions and represented minorities in the society.
Members of the Senate are selected by two means i.e. appointed by the State Legislative Assembly and appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The number of Senator seats is 70 seats.
The Third Reading confines the reading only to the contents of a particular Bill and any amendments which raised matters not included in the Bill shall be out of order.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua is known as Speaker for the House of Representatives and President for the Senate. Tuan Yang di-Pertua is the Presiding Officer of Parliament.
For the Senate, Tuan Yang di-Pertua must be selected among the Senators. Therefore, the term of office shall be subject to his membership in the Senate.
Whereas for the House of Representatives, the Tuan Yang di-Pertua may be elected among the Members of the House of Representatives or non-Members who are eligible to be elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Any language, words or expressions which are disrespectful or sexist used by the Members which shall be out of order according to the Standing Order Article 36(4).
The House may declare a seat vacant for some reasons i.e. disqualification of membership, the resignation of members, and the absence of Members.
Last updated: 02 March 2021 | Hits: 26545
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