# Dewan Rakyat: How 222 Seats Turn Into Federal Law

> A descriptive account of the Dewan Rakyat as set out by the Federal Constitution and the Standing Orders — its 222-seat composition under Article 46, its five-year term under Article 55, the path a Bill follows, and the financial powers it holds alone under Articles 67 and 68.

- Category: government
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-07-24
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/government/dewan-rakyat

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## At a glance

| | |
| --- | --- |
| Name | Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) |
| Type | Elected lower House, in a bicameral Parliament |
| Constitutional basis | Part IV, Chapter 4 of the Federal Constitution |
| Membership | 222 elected members (Article 46(1)) |
| Age of qualification | Not less than 18 years (Article 47(b)) |
| Maximum term | Five years from the first meeting (Article 55(3)) |
| Quorum | 26 members, not including the Chairman (Standing Order 13(1)) |
| Presiding officer | Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (Article 57) |

An Act of Parliament that binds every person in Malaysia begins with
something almost invisible: the Clerk reads the name of a Bill at the Table,
and no one argues. That is the first reading. Everything after that —
debate, clause-by-clause amendment, the vote, royal assent — is a chain of
conditions that must be satisfied in sequence before that piece of paper
acquires the force of law.

This page describes that chain: who sits in the Dewan Rakyat, how long they
sit, and what exactly the Constitution allows that House to do.

## 222 seats, set out in the Constitution itself

Most sources stop at the number 222. The Constitution does not. Article
46(2) breaks that figure down among the States and the Federal Territories
in its own text — not through ordinary legislation, and not through an
administrative order.

| State / Territory | Seats |
| --- | ---: |
| Sarawak | 31 |
| Johor | 26 |
| Sabah | 25 |
| Perak | 24 |
| Selangor | 22 |
| Kedah | 15 |
| Kelantan | 14 |
| Pahang | 14 |
| Penang | 13 |
| Negeri Sembilan | 8 |
| Terengganu | 8 |
| Melaka | 6 |
| Perlis | 3 |
| **Total, the States** | **209** |
| F.T. Kuala Lumpur | 11 |
| F.T. Labuan | 1 |
| F.T. Putrajaya | 1 |
| **Total, the Federal Territories** | **13** |
| **Grand total** | **222** |

Each member represents one electoral constituency, as stated by Parliament's
own official portal. Because this figure is contained in the Constitution,
changing it means amending the Constitution — and Article 159(3) requires
the support of not less than two-thirds of the total number of members at
the Second and Third Readings.

The figure of 222 itself came into force on 19 January 2006, when Akta A1260
replaced the number two hundred and nineteen. The history of the seat count
can be read directly from the amendment notes to Article 46: 104 members in
1962, 159 after the formation of Malaysia in 1963 (including 15 from
Singapore), 144 after 1965.

## Who is eligible to sit

Article 47 sets out two basic conditions: citizenship, and residence in the
Federation. The rest is a matter of age — and this is where the two Houses
differ.

- **Dewan Rakyat** — not less than **18 years**.
- **Dewan Negara** — not less than **30 years**.

Article 48(1) lists the grounds for disqualification: being found to be of
unsound mind; being an undischarged bankrupt; holding an office of profit;
failing to submit a return of election expenses; being convicted of an
offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year or to a
fine of not less than RM2,000 without having received a free pardon; or
voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship.

## The five-year clock

The Dewan Rakyat does not last forever. Article 55 sets out its entire
cycle, and its figures are exact.

| Provision | Time limit |
| --- | --- |
| Article 55(1) | **Six months** may not elapse between the last sitting of one session and the first meeting of the next session |
| Article 55(3) | Parliament continues for **five years** from the date of its first meeting, then dissolves |
| Article 55(4) | A general election within **60 days** of dissolution |
| Article 55(4) | Parliament is summoned to meet not later than **120 days** from dissolution |

Notice the language of Article 55(3): "unless sooner dissolved… shall
thereupon stand dissolved." That automatic dissolution takes effect without
any action. The power to dissolve earlier lies with the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong under Article 55(2).

Prorogation is not dissolution. Article 55(5) provides that a Bill that has
not yet been disposed of does not lapse by reason of prorogation, and
Article 55(7) protects a Bill awaiting assent from lapsing by reason of
either prorogation or dissolution.

## The path of a Bill

Article 66(1) provides that Parliament's law-making power is exercised
through a Bill passed by both Houses — or, in the case referred to in
Article 68, by the Dewan Rakyat alone — and assented to by the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong. The Standing Orders fill in the procedural detail.

1. **First reading.** Under Standing Order 48, a Minister may bring in a
   Bill after giving at least one day's notice, without requiring an order
   of the House. The name of the Bill is read by the Clerk at the Table.
   There is no debate.
2. **Second reading.** Standing Order 53 requires notice to be given as
   soon as possible after the first reading, and Standing Order 53(2) bars
   the second reading until the Bill has been sent to members. Debate here
   concerns the principle of the Bill.
3. **Committee stage.** Standing Order 54(2): once read a second time, the
   Bill is committed to a Committee of the whole House, unless the House
   passes a motion to refer it to a Select Committee. Standing Order 54(1)
   allows referral to a Select Committee before the second reading. This is
   where clauses are examined one by one.
4. **Third reading.** Standing Order 61(1) confines debate to the contents
   of the Bill.
5. **The Dewan Negara,** then **assent.** Article 66(3) sends the Bill to
   the other House.

A vote is decided by the ordinary majority of members voting (Article
62(3)), except where the Constitution requires a special majority. The
Chairman casts a vote only when necessary to avoid an equality of votes, and
may not vote in any other case. Article 62(5) bars a member who is not
present from voting.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has **30 days** to give assent (Article 66(4)). If
that period lapses, Article 66(4A) provides that the Bill becomes law "in
the same manner as if he had assented thereto." Article 66(5) adds one final
condition: no law comes into force until it has been published.

## Two powers held by the Dewan Rakyat alone

This is the part most often left out of short explanations.

**Money starts here.** Article 67(1) lists seven categories of financial
provision — among them the imposition or increase of taxation, the
borrowing of money by the Federation, payment out of the Consolidated Fund,
and the auditing of accounts. A Bill or amendment containing such a
provision **may not be brought in or moved except by a Minister**, and **may
not be introduced in the Dewan Negara**. That qualification depends on the
Minister charged with responsibility for finance signifying that the
provision is more than merely incidental.

**The Dewan Negara may delay, not block.** Article 68 sets two different
clocks:

| Type of Bill | Effect if the Dewan Negara does not pass it |
| --- | --- |
| Money Bill | Sent to the Dewan Negara at least **one month** before the end of the session; if not passed without amendment within **one month**, it is presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong unless the Dewan Rakyat directs otherwise |
| Other Bill | The Dewan Rakyat may pass it again in the following session, but **not earlier than one year** after it was first passed; if the Dewan Negara again does not pass it, it is presented for assent |

Two details reinforce this power. Article 68(6) leaves the definition of a
"Money Bill" to **the opinion of the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat**. And
Article 68(4) requires a certificate of the Speaker that the provisions of
that Article have been complied with — a certificate that is "conclusive
for all purposes and shall not be questioned in any court."

Article 68(5) places its limit: this mechanism does not apply to a Bill for
a constitutional amendment, other than an amendment excepted from Article
159(3).

## Oversight function

Article 43(3) states its foundation in one sentence: "The Cabinet shall be
collectively responsible to Parliament." Article 43(2)(a) provides that the
Prime Minister is appointed from among the members of the Dewan Rakyat who,
in the judgment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is likely to command the
confidence of the majority of the members of that House, and Article 43(4)
provides for the consequence when that confidence is lost.

Its day-to-day instruments of oversight lie within the Standing Orders.

- **Questions.** Standing Order 21(1) allows a question to be addressed to
  a Minister on a matter within his official duties. Standing Order 22(2)
  requires written notice not later than 14 working days before the sitting
  begins, and Standing Order 22(3) limits each member to three questions
  marked "For Oral Answer" for one sitting day.
- **Public Accounts Committee.** Standing Order 77 requires this Committee
  to be appointed at the beginning of every Parliament to examine the
  accounts of the Government of Malaysia and the statement of the Auditor
  General presented under Article 107. It consists of a Chairman and a
  Deputy Chairman appointed by the House, together with six to twelve
  members. Standing Order 77(4) bars a Minister from holding the office of
  Chairman or from being a member of it, and Standing Order 77(5) gives it
  the power to summon persons to attend and to call for the production of
  papers and records.
- **Privilege.** Article 63(1) places the validity of proceedings outside
  the jurisdiction of any court, and Article 63(2) protects a person from
  court proceedings in respect of anything said or any vote given while
  taking part in proceedings.

## Common mistakes

**"A term of Parliament is exactly five years."** Article 55(3) measures
five years from the **date of the first meeting**, not from the date of the
election. Article 55(1), in turn, sets a separate limit of six months
between sessions.

**"The Speaker must be a Member of Parliament."** Article 57(1)(a) allows
the election of a person who is *qualified* to be elected as a member, even
if he is not a member.

**"Every vacancy results in a by-election."** The proviso to Article 54(1)
provides that a vacancy ascertained within two years of the date Parliament
would be dissolved under Article 55(3) is not filled, unless the Speaker
notifies the Election Commission in writing that the strength of the
majority is affected.

**"A Bill dies when Parliament is prorogued."** Article 55(5) provides
otherwise for a Bill that has not yet been disposed of.

**"Parliament's power is unlimited."** The Ninth Schedule divides matters
among the Federal List, the State List and the Concurrent List — see
[Parliament of Malaysia](/en/government/parliament) and
[Federal Constitution](/en/law/federal-constitution).

## What's next

For an overview of the entire federal legislature, including the standing
of the Dewan Negara and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Article 44, read
[Parliament of Malaysia](/en/government/parliament). For the structure of
the document that sets out every limit above, including the amendment
procedure under Article 159, read
[Federal Constitution](/en/law/federal-constitution). The background to why
Sarawak and Sabah hold the number of seats listed in Article 46(2) begins
with the
[formation of Malaysia in 1963](/en/malaysia/formation-of-malaysia-1963).

To verify any figure on this page, refer to the text of the Federal
Constitution at [lom.agc.gov.my](https://lom.agc.gov.my/federal-constitution.php)
and the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat at
[parlimen.gov.my](https://www.parlimen.gov.my/images/webuser/PM_DR_BM.pdf).

## Sources

- Perlembagaan Persekutuan (Cetakan Semula) — https://bhess.jpm.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Perlembagaan-Persekutuan-Cetakan-Semula-2020-1.pdf (Jabatan Perdana Menteri)
- Federal Constitution — Laws of Malaysia — https://lom.agc.gov.my/federal-constitution.php (Jabatan Peguam Negara Malaysia)
- Peraturan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Rakyat, Cetakan Ketiga Belas — https://www.parlimen.gov.my/images/webuser/PM_DR_BM.pdf (Parlimen Malaysia)
- Maklumat Umum — Dewan Rakyat — https://www.parlimen.gov.my/maklumat-umum.html?uweb=dr (Parlimen Malaysia)

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