The States of Malaysia
Malaysia is a federation consisting of thirteen states and three federal territories, which serve as the primary administrative divisions of the country. These regions are distributed across Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo.
Administrative Structure
The states in Malaysia are categorized into those with hereditary monarchies and those headed by appointed governors. The monarchies include nine states in Peninsular Malaysia, each ruled by a sultan or raja. The remaining four states have governors appointed by the federal government. Each state is governed by a chief minister, who is appointed by the monarch or governor, contingent on the support of a majority in the respective state legislative assembly.
Federal Territories
The three federal territories—Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya—were established on land separated from existing states. Kuala Lumpur serves as the national capital, while Putrajaya is the administrative capital.
Formation and History
The Federation of Malaya was established in 1948, uniting multiple protectorates with two directly ruled British colonies. Malaya achieved independence in 1957. In 1963, Sabah and Sarawak, along with Singapore, joined with Malaya to form Malaysia. However, Singapore was expelled in 1965, becoming a sovereign nation.
Sabah and Sarawak
Sabah and Sarawak are distinct from other Malaysian states due to their geographical separation and unique demographics, economies, and political systems. They possess greater autonomy as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement, which was a crucial part of the federation's formation.
Governance and Politics
The governance of Malaysian states is rooted in a system of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Conference of Rulers includes the nine rulers of the Malay states, functioning as a unique element of Malaysia's political system. The rulers play a ceremonial role at the federal level but hold significant authority within their respective states.