Prime Minister of Malaysia

The Prime Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia;) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints as the prime minister is a Member of Parliament (MP) who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs. This person is usually the leader of the party winning the most seats in a General Election.

Appointment
According to the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint a prime minister to preside over the Cabinet. The prime minister is to be a member of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives), and who in his majesty's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House. This person must be a Malaysian citizen, but cannot have obtained their citizenship by means of naturalisation or registration. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint members from either the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara (Senate) with the prime minister's advice.

The prime minister and his cabinet members must take and subscribe to the oath of office and allegiance as well as the oath of secrecy in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before they can exercise functions of office. The Cabinet is collectively accountable to the Parliament of Malaysia. The Prime Minister's Department (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister's Office) is the body and ministry in which the prime minister exercises his/her functions and powers.

In the case where Dewan Rakyat passes a vote of "no confidence" in the government, the prime minister is bound by convention resign immediately. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's choice of replacement prime minister will be dedicated by the circumstances. All other ministers shall continue to hold office by the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, unless if the appointment of any minister is revoked by his majesty upon the advice of the prime minister. Any minister may resign from his/her office.

Following a resignation in other circumstances, most commonly defeat in an election, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would generally appoint as the new leader of the governing party of the coalition as new Prime Minister.

Powers
The power of the prime minister is subjected to a number of limitations. Prime ministers removed as leader of his or her party, or whose government loses a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat, must advise a new election of the lower house or resign from office.

The prime minister's party will normally have a majority in the Dewan Rakyat and party discipline is exceptionally strong in Malaysian politics, so passage of the government's legislation through the Dewan Rakyat is mostly a formality.

Under the Constitution, the prime minister's role includes advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on: Under Article 22 of the Constitution, the executive authority is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. However, Article 23(1) states that cases, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is bound to exercise his powers on the advice of the Cabinet or a minister acting under Cabinet's general authority. Thus, most of the day-to-day of governing is actually done by the prime minister and the Cabinet.
 * the appointment of the federal ministers (full members of cabinet);
 * the appointment of federal deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries (non-full members of cabinet);
 * the appointment of Senators in the Dewan Negara;
 * the summoning and adjournment of sittings of the Dewan Rakyat;
 * the appointment of judges of the superior courts (which are the High Courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court); and
 * the appointment of the attorney-general.