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Malaysia is a constitutional
monarchy, nominally headed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong ("paramount
ruler"), customarily referred to as the king. Kings are elected for
5-year terms from among the nine sultans of the peninsular Malaysian
states. The king is also the leader of the Islamic faith in Malaysia.

Executive power is vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister;
the Malaysian constitution stipulates that the prime minister must be
a member of the lower house of parliament who, in the opinion of the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet
is chosen from among members of both houses of parliament and is
responsible to that body.
The bicameral parliament consists of the Senate (Dewan Negara) and the
House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat). |
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