Malaysia · Constitution
Federal Constitution of Malaysia
In force since independence in 1957 and adapted in 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined. It establishes a federation of 13 states under an elected monarch, guarantees fundamental liberties in Part II, and provides in Article 3 that Islam is the religion of the Federation while other religions may be practised in peace. Article 153 provides for the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak alongside the legitimate interests of other communities. The Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the 2022 amendments give Sabah and Sarawak distinct protections including immigration control.
The constitutional text
In force since independence in 1957 and adapted in 1963 when Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined. It establishes a federation of 13 states under an elected monarch, guarantees fundamental liberties in Part II, and provides in Article 3 that Islam is the religion of the Federation while other religions may be practised in peace. Article 153 provides for the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak alongside the legitimate interests of other communities. The Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the 2022 amendments give Sabah and Sarawak distinct protections including immigration control.
Separation of powers
Federal, with 13 states and three federal territories. The Ninth Schedule sets out Federal, State and Concurrent Lists: land, Islamic law, Malay custom and local government are state matters, while trade, finance, defence and civil and criminal law are federal. Sabah and Sarawak hold additional competences — immigration, native customary land, and their own High Court — reflecting the terms on which they joined.
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