Membership and Machinery
A member of the Dewan Rakyat must be at least 21 years of age and must not be a member of the Dewan Negara. The presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat is the Speaker, who is elected at the beginning of each Parliament or after the vacation of the post, by the MPs. Two Deputy Speakers are also elected, and one of them sits in place of the Speaker when he is absent. The Dewan Rakyat machinery is supervised by the Clerk to the House who is appointed by the King; he may only be removed from office through the manner prescribed for judges or by mandatory retirement at age 60.
As of the 2008 general election, Dewan Rakyat has 222 elected members. Members are elected from single-member constituencies, drawn by the Election Commission based on the population. Constituency boundaries are redrawn every ten years based on the latest census.
Each Dewan Rakyat lasts for a maximum of five years, after which a general election must be called. In the general election, voters select a candidate to represent their constituency in the Dewan Rakyat. The plurality voting system is used; the candidate who gains the most votes wins the seat.
Before a general election can be called, the King must first dissolve Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. According to Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has his right at his own discretion either to dissolve or hold on the parliament.
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