The Constitution is a document that contains the highest laws of the country. No other law can contravene the constitution.
The Federal Constitution (Malaysia) we have today is based on the Constitution of the Federal of Malaya presented by the Reid Commission in 1957. The 1957 document was amended to suit the requirements of the enlarge federation and put into effects as the Constitution when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963.
SOURCE OF LAW IN MALAYSIA
WRITEN - Federal Constitution - Act ( laws enacted) - Enactment/ Ordinance - Written Islamic Law - Minor Legislations
UNWRITTEN - Customary Law - Court decisions - Common Law - Unwritten Islamic Law
FEDERAL CONSTITUTION & STATE CONSTITUTIONS
Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. The country has a central federal government and 13 states governments. The Federal Constitution provides for a separation of powers between the federal government and the respective state governments. This power separation is aimed at ensuring the smooth operation of the federal system and the avoidance of disputes that may arise between the central government and a state government. The extent of the Federal Government’s power is mentioned in the Federal List.
Federal List - Foreign Affairs - Defence - Internal Security - Legal and civil agendas and crime and administration of Justice - Federal Citizenship - Government machinery - Finance - Trade, Commerce and industry - Shipping, sailing and fishery - Communication and transport - Federal works - Study, investigation, research - Education - Medicine and Health - Labour and social safety - Welfare of aboriginal people - Professional occupations - Holidays other than state holidays, standard time - Non-corporate