Prime Minister of Malaysia

The prime minister of Malaysia (Malay: Perdana Menteri Malaysia; Jawi: ڤردان منتري مليسيا‎) is the head of government of Malaysia. This important leader directs the executive branch of the federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is the king, chooses the prime minister. The chosen person must be a member of Parliament and someone who can get the support of most other members.

When Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first prime minister. At that time, he was already the chief minister of the Federation of Malaya.

Today, the prime minister is Anwar Ibrahim. He was elected after the 2022 Malaysian general election. As prime minister, he helps lead the country and make important decisions for Malaysia.

Appointment

According to the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints a prime minister to lead the Cabinet. The prime minister must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat, which is the House of Representatives, and must have the support of most members of that House. The prime minister must be a Malaysian citizen by birth and not just by naturalisation.

The prime minister and the cabinet ministers must take an oath of office in front of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before they can start their work. The Cabinet is responsible to the Parliament of Malaysia. Cabinet members cannot have other jobs that might create a conflict of interest. The Prime Minister's Department is where the prime minister carries out their duties.

If the government cannot pass its budget or if the House of Representatives votes no confidence, the prime minister should step down. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will then choose a new prime minister based on the situation. Malaysia uses a first-past-the-post-voting system, where the party or group with 112 seats in the Dewan Rakyat forms the government.

Powers

The prime minister of Malaysia has important duties but also faces some limits. If the prime minister’s party loses its lead or if the government cannot keep the support of most members of Parliament, the prime minister must either call for new elections or step down. Losing a vote about spending money or important laws can also lead to the prime minister needing to resign or call new elections.

The prime minister’s party usually has most seats in Parliament, making it easier to pass laws. The prime minister helps the king, called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with important decisions such as choosing ministers, senators, judges, and leaders of many important groups.

Main article: Malaysian federal budget

List of prime ministers of Malaysia

Colour key (for political coalitions/parties):

  Alliance Party (2)   Barisan Nasional (6)   Pakatan Harapan (2)   Perikatan Nasional (1)

Timeline

#	Portrait	Prime Minister (Birth–Death) Constituency	Term of office			Mandate	Party		Government	Monarch(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman تونکو عبد الرحمن‎ (1903–1990) MP for Kuala Kedah	31 August 1957	22 September 1970	13 years, 23 days	1955		Alliance (UMNO)	Rahman I	Abdul Rahman Hisamuddin Putra Ismail Nasiruddin Abdul Halim
						1959			Rahman II
						1964			Rahman III
						1969			Rahman IV
2		Tun Haji Abdul Razak Hussein عبد الرزاق حسين‎ (1922–1976) MP for Pekan	22 September 1970	14 January 1976	5 years, 115 days	–		Alliance (UMNO)	Razak I	Abdul Halim Yahya Petra
						1974		BN (UMNO)	Razak II
3		Tun Hussein Onn حسين عون‎ (1922–1990) MP for Sri Gading	15 January 1976	16 July 1981	5 years, 183 days	–		BN (UMNO)	Hussein I	Yahya Petra Ahmad Shah
						1978			Hussein II
4		Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (born 1925) MP for Kubang Pasu	16 July 1981	30 October 2003	22 years, 107 days	—		BN (UMNO)	Mahathir I	Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Ja'afar Salahuddin Sirajuddin
						1982			Mahathir II
						1986			Mahathir III
						1990			Mahathir IV
						1995			Mahathir V
						1999			Mahathir VI
5		Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi عبد الله أحمد بدوي‎ (1939–2025) MP for Kepala Batas	31 October 2003	3 April 2009	5 years, 155 days	—		BN (UMNO)	Abdullah I	Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin
						2004			Abdullah II
						2008			Abdullah III
6		Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak محمد نجيب عبد الرزاق‎ (born 1953) MP for Pekan	3 April 2009	9 May 2018	9 years, 37 days	—		BN (UMNO)	Najib I	Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim Muhammad V
						2013			Najib II
7		Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad محاضير محمد‎ (born 1925) MP for Langkawi	10 May 2018	24 February 2020	1 year, 291 days	2018		PH (BERSATU)	Mahathir VII	Muhammad V Abdullah
During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad was the Interim Prime Minister. (24 February–1 March 2020)										Abdullah
8		Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin محيي الدين محمد ياسين‎ (born 1947) MP for Pagoh	1 March 2020	16 August 2021	1 year, 169 days	—		PN (BERSATU)	Muhyiddin
During this interval, the incumbent Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin was the Caretaker Prime Minister. (16–21 August 2021)
9		Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob إسماعيل صبري يعقوب‎ (born 1960) MP for Bera	21 August 2021	24 November 2022	1 year, 96 days	—		BN (UMNO)	Ismail Sabri
10		Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim أنوار إبراهيم‎‎ (born 1947) MP for Tambun	24 November 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 174 days	(2022)		PH (PKR)	Anwar	Abdullah Ibrahim Iskandar