Federal Level
At the federal level, voters elect the 222-member House of Representatives (Malay: Dewan Rakyat, literally "Hall of the People") of the bicameral Parliament. Members are elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on population using the first past the post system. The party that has the majority of the House of Representatives will form the federal government.
The Constitution of Malaysia requires that a general election must be held at least once every five years. However, the Prime Minister can ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament at any time before this five-year period has expired. A general election should be held no later than two months in West Malaysia and three months for East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) after the dissolution of the Parliament.
Over the years, the predominant winner of the parliamentary election has always been the Barisan Nasional (National Front; once known as the Alliance), a coalition of fourteen parties.
See also: Parliamentary constituencies and state assemblies of MalaysiaRead more about this topic: Elections In Malaysia
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