States of Malaysia facts for kids
Malaysia is a country made up of thirteen states and three federal territories. This type of country is called a federation. Most of these states and territories are on the Malay Peninsula. The others are on the island of Borneo.
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Malaysia's States and Territories
Malaysia has 13 states and 3 federal territories. They are split into two main areas:
- Peninsular Malaysia: This part has 11 states and 2 federal territories.
- East Malaysia: This part has 2 states and 1 federal territory. It is located on the island of Borneo.
Here are the states and federal territories:
- Federal Territories: Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya.
- States in Peninsular Malaysia: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, and Terengganu.
- States in East Malaysia: Sabah and Sarawak.
How Malaysia is Governed
Malaysia is a federation. This means power is shared between the main national government (called the federal government) and the governments of each state. The federal territories are managed directly by the federal government.
Sharing Power
The rules for who does what are written in Malaysia's Constitution of Malaysia. This special document lists what the federal government can do and what the state governments can do. For example, states usually handle things like land, local government, and the Islamic religion.
Leaders of the States
Many of Malaysia's states used to be old Malay Kingdoms. Nine of the 13 states still have their own royal families. These are known as the Malay States.
- The King: Malaysia has a King, called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is chosen from the nine royal rulers and serves for five years.
- State Rulers: In the nine Malay States, there is a royal ruler who is the head of the state. Most of these rulers are called Sultans. The ruler of Perlis is called a Raja, and the ruler of Negeri Sembilan is called a Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
- Chief Ministers: Each state also has a Chief Minister. This person is the political leader and runs the state government day-to-day.
- Governors: The states of Penang, Malacca, Sabah, and Sarawak do not have royal rulers. Instead, they have a Governor, called a Yang di-Pertua Negeri. These Governors are appointed by the federal government. They also have a Chief Minister.
Special Powers for Sabah and Sarawak
When Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaysia, they were given some extra powers. For example, they have their own rules about immigration. This means Malaysians from other states need to show their ID or passport when traveling to Sabah or Sarawak.
State and Federal Lawmaking
Each state has its own lawmaking body called the Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Assembly). Members of this assembly are chosen by the people in elections. The leader of the winning party usually becomes the Chief Minister.
States also send two people to the Dewan Negara (Senate). This is the upper house of the federal parliament, where national laws are made.
States are further divided into smaller areas called districts. These districts are then divided into even smaller areas called mukim. In Sabah and Sarawak, districts are grouped into "Divisions."
Singapore and Brunei's Connection to Malaysia
- Singapore: Singapore was once a state of Malaysia. It joined when Malaysia was formed in 1963 but left the federation in 1965.
- Brunei: Brunei was invited to join Malaysia. However, it decided not to. This was due to several reasons, including discussions about the role of the Sultan and how oil money would be shared.
Images for kids
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The building hosting the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
