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The 'Prime Minister of Malaysia' (in Malay ''Perdana Menteri'') is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is formally appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or Supreme Ruler, of Malaysia, and is invariably the leader of the largest party in the federal House of Representatives (''Dewan Rakyat''), the elected lower house of Parliament. He heads the Cabinet of Malaysia, whose members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the prime minister's advice. Since independence in 1957 the prime minister has been from the United Malays National Organisation (UM, NO), the largest component party of the Barisan Nasional or National Front (known as ''Perikatan'' or Alliance until the 1969 general election).
The current and fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia is Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Contents

Requirements for taking office

List of Prime Ministers of Malaysia

External links

Requirements for taking office

According to the Constitution of Malaysia, the Prime Minister must be:

★ A member of the ''Dewan Rakyat'' (House of Representatives).

★ Born a citizen of Malaysia; naturalised citizens may not be appointed as Prime Minister.
Although theoretically, the constitution gives the Yang di-Pertuan Agong discretion in the appointment of the Prime Minister, the appointment is invariably made based on vote-taking in the House or on the party commanding the most seats.

List of Prime Ministers of Malaysia

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
Tunku Abdul Rahman	1957	1970	UMNO
Tun Abdul Razak	1970	1976	UMNO
Tun Hussein Onn	1976	1981	UMNO
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad	1981	2003	UMNO
Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi	2003	(Present)	UMNO

External links

★ Official Website of the Prime Minister of Malaysia