The Majlis Senator Malaysia (MSM), or the Council of Malaysian Senators, was established and registered with the Registrar of Societies in January 2013. Initially, Senators formed the Kelab Senators, organized by the National Front party, and it was exclusively open to members of that particular party and only sitting Senators. However, MSM’s constitution now allows membership to include current and former Senators who have served at least one term (three years) or a full term (six years), regardless of political affiliation, making it a bipartisan organization.

The Malaysian Senate can accommodate up to 72 members at any time. It consists of 26 members representing Malaysia’s 13 states, elected by the state assemblies and proposed by the ruling parties of the respective states. The remaining 46 members are appointed by the federal government and come from various professional and community backgrounds. These appointments are the prerogative of the state assemblies or the federal government, and Senators can serve one term (three years) or a maximum of two terms (six years). The Prime Minister typically proposes these federal appointments, which may include professionals, representatives of minority ethnic groups, or individuals from the music or film industries. These appointments require the consent of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Senators may also be appointed to Cabinet positions, such as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, or Parliamentary Secretaries, at the discretion of the Prime Minister, and they must be sworn in before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The establishment of MSM reflects a progressive step toward supporting its members’ welfare. The management committee comprises the President, Deputy President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Information Chief, Honourable Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer. Decisions made by the management committee must be endorsed by the full committee of 22 members, ensuring the required quorum is met, as members are located throughout the country.

MSM organizes various activities, such as visiting states across Malaysia to understand issues affecting the population and fostering connections between communities. These visits also involve engagements with local organizations, such as old folks’ homes and orphanages, to provide support and donations to those in need. During these visits, members receive briefings from the Chief Minister’s Office, state assembly speakers, and various state ministries on state developments. Members are also taken to different areas within the states to understand local problems, which they can later bring to Senate debates to help the states address these issues.

MSM also engages with international counterparts, particularly those from countries that once ruled or colonized Malaysia or any of its states. The Council has previously arranged visits to such countries and plans to conduct more.

Dato’ Sri Khairudin Samad
President,
Council of Malaysian Senators (MSM).