How Malaysian elections work
Malaysians elect 222 Members of Parliament, one per constituency. The coalition that controls 112 seats forms the government — and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
Updated 1 July 2026 · based on the Federal Constitution of Malaysia
The magic numbers: 222 and 112
222 — seats in the Dewan Rakyat (federal Parliament). Each is won by one MP from one constituency.
112 — a simple majority (half + 1). A coalition needs this many seats to form the government.
148 — a two-thirds supermajority, historically needed to amend the Constitution.
First-past-the-post
Malaysia uses first-past-the-post (FPTP): in each of the 222 constituencies, the candidate with the most votes wins the seat — there's no second round. Because seats are won one by one, a coalition can win the most seats without winning the most total votes nationwide. It's why the seat count, not the popular vote, decides who governs.
You vote twice: Parlimen and DUN
On polling day you usually cast two votes: one for your federal MP (Parlimen) and one for your state assemblyperson (DUN — Dewan Undangan Negeri). Parliament handles national matters; the State Legislative Assembly handles state ones. State elections can happen on the same day as a general election, or on their own schedule.
How the Prime Minister is chosen
You don't vote for the PM directly. After the votes are counted, whoever can show they command the confidence of a majority of MPs (112) is appointed Prime Minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the King). When no single coalition reaches 112 — as in the 2022 hung parliament — parties negotiate to form a coalition government.
Who can vote
Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above on the electoral roll. Since December 2021, the Undi18 reform lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and introduced automatic registration, so eligible citizens are added to the roll automatically. You can check your registration and polling station in seconds.
Common questions
How many seats are there in the Malaysian Parliament?
The Dewan Rakyat has 222 seats. A coalition needs 112 for a majority; 148 is a two-thirds supermajority.
How is the Prime Minister chosen?
Indirectly. Voters elect 222 MPs; whoever commands a majority (112) is appointed PM by the King.
What voting system does Malaysia use?
First-past-the-post — the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins that seat, with no runoff.
What's the difference between Parliament and the DUN?
The Dewan Rakyat is the federal Parliament (222 seats); each state's DUN governs state matters. You usually vote for both on polling day.
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