Why it was created
The Federal Legislative Council (Majlis Perundangan Persekutuan) was set up under the Federation of Malaya Agreement of 1948, which replaced the unpopular Malayan Union. Its job was to make laws for the whole Federation and to debate the country's affairs, giving Malaya a single central law-making body.
How it was made up
At first the council was dominated by official members (British officials) and appointed unofficial members representing the communities and interests; the High Commissioner presided. Over time the balance shifted towards elected members. After the 1955 general election, the council contained a large majority of elected members for the first time, so the people's chosen representatives now made the laws.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Created under | Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948 |
| Main task | Make federal laws |
| Early members | Mostly official & appointed |
| After 1955 | Mostly elected |
Its importance
The Federal Legislative Council trained Malayans in law-making and debate and gave the elected government a proper forum. It was the direct forerunner of the Parliament of independent Malaya, so the habits of legislative democracy were already in place by the time of Merdeka in 1957. Through it, Malayans learned to settle disputes by debate and by vote rather than by force, a habit that became a cornerstone of the country's parliamentary democracy.
Key idea
The Federal Legislative Council, created under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948, made federal laws and — becoming mostly elected after 1955 — grew into the Parliament of independent Malaya.
Remember
- Set up under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948.
- Task: make federal laws.
- Early on mostly official/appointed; mostly elected after 1955.
- Forerunner of the Parliament.