Malaysia is to hold its 12th General Election on Saturday. The following are basic facts of Malaysia's 12th general election:
The Parliament of Malaysia consists of the Dewan Negara (Senate), or upper house, and the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives),or lower house.
Members of the Dewan Rakyat are elected in a general election which is normally held every five years. Parties with the most votes can form a government to rule the country.
The Dewan Negara consists of 70 members, 26 of whom are elected by the State Legislative Assembly to represent 13 states in the country (each state represented by two members). The other 44 members are appointed by the Supreme Head (Head of State) on the advice of the Prime Minister, including two members from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, and one member each from the Federal Territory of Labuan and Putrajaya.
The tenure of office of a member of the Dewan Negara is a three-year term for a maximum of two terms.
Malaysia has held 11 general elections since it gained independence in 1957. The 11th General Election was held on March 21, 2004, involving elections for the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies for all states except for Sabah and Sarawak.
Generally, federal Parliamentary elections are held in tandem with State election in Peninsula Malaysia, while state elections in Sabah and Sarawak are held separately.
The 11th Parliament of Malaysia was dissolved on Feb. 13. The 12th General Election will be held on March 8, involving elections for the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies for all states except for Sarawak. Sarawak already held the election for its State Assembly in 2006.
A total of 222 seats for the House of Representatives of the 12th Parliament of the country is scheduled to be contested in 222constituencies nationwide, 31 in Sarawak, 25 in Sabah, 25 in Johor,22 in Selangor, 24 in Perak, 15 in Kedah, 14 in Pahang, 14 in Kelantan, 13 in Penang, 11 in Kuala Lumpur, 8 in Sembilan, 8 in Terengganu, 6 in Malacca, 3 in Perlis, and one in Putrajaya and one in Labuan.
In the Malaysian system of elections, a candidate is qualified to contest in the election if he or she is a Malaysian citizen anda resident of the country, not less than 21 years of age, and has no disqualified offenses. He or she must be a resident of the State if contesting a state seat.
A Malaysian is qualified for voting if he or she is not less than 21 years of age, a resident of the country, and has no disqualified offenses.
According to the Election Commission of Malaysia, there are a total of 10.922 million eligible voters for the 12th General Election, including 221,000 people who will cast their ballots through postal services, most of them are police personnel and soldiers.
The polling time on March 8 is fixed from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for Peninsular Malaysia and from 7.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, according to the commission. The polling times may differ in different districts.
The ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front, consists of 14 parties, including the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the United Sarawak Native Inheritance Party (PBB), the People's Movement Party (PGRM), the People's Progressive Party of Malaysia (PPP), the Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP), the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), the Sarawak People's Party (PRS), the Liberal Democratic Party of Sabah, the Sabah Progressive Party (PMS), the United Sabah People's Party (PBRS), the United Momogun Kadazandusun Organization (UPKO), the Sabah United Party (PBS).
It campaigns under a single BN banner and logo.
Major opposition parties include the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS), and the People's Justice Party (PKR).
Source: Xinhua
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