Under the current legislation, all political parties (termed "Political Associations") must be registered under the Societies Act.
The Election Offences Act (1954) regulate the maximum expenses allowed for candidates vying for parliamentary seats and for state seats during the campaign period (excluding before the nomination day and after election day). The permissible campaign expenditure set by the Election Offences Act (1954) is RM100,000 per candidate for state seats, and RM200,000 per candidate for federal seats. According to this guideline, with 505 state seats and 222 parliamentary seats in the 2013 general election, the maximum amount that Barisan Nasional was allowed to spend was only about RM95 million. Due to the lack of record and regulations, Malaysian politicians may not even know how much they spent on their campaigns or overspending the expenditure than permitted by law. Another related problem was the secrecy surrounding political funds and their use. Although many politicians, including members of newly appointed cabinets, voluntarily disclosed their personal finances, such disclosure is not compulsory and many sources of revenue remain obscure.
The deposit was RM10,000 to contest a parliamentary seat, or RM5,000 to contest a state assembly seat. The deposit is used to pay for infringements of election laws and is returned after polling day unless the candidate loses and fails to garner more than 12.5 percent or one-eighth of the votes cast. Additionally it is required that each candidate provide a RM5,000 deposit for cleaning up banners and posters after the election.
Political donations are legal in Malaysia. There is no limit, and parties are not obliged to disclose the source of the funding, which makes political donations a vague subject but still entirely legal in the country. All political donations are allowed to be given into accounts of individuals and accounts of the political party. Anonymous donors and foreigners may request to not to reveal their identities.
Political parties are funded by contributions from:
party members and individual supporters (via membership fees/dues/subscriptions and/or local/foreign small donations),
organisations, which share their political views (e.g. by trade union affiliation fees) or which stand to benefit from their activities (e.g. by local/foreign corporate donations) or
taxpayers respectively the general revenue fund (by grants that are called state aid, government or public funding).
Parties represented in the Parliament and/or the state legislative assemblies
This is the list of coalitions and parties that have representation in the Parliament of Malaysia (Dewan Rakyat & Dewan Negara) and/or the state legislative assemblies, sorted by the year in which the respective parties were legalised and registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
The list is sorted by the year in which the respective parties were legalised and registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Parties without representation in the Parliament and the state legislative assemblies
This is the list of coalitions and parties that do not have representation in the Parliament of Malaysia (Dewan Rakyat & Dewan Negara) and the state legislative assemblies, sorted by the year in which the respective parties were legalised and registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
The candidates and supporters of the various political parties tend to wear the following shirt colours while making their rounds in various wards or campaigning.
Communist Party of Malaya (CPM; Parti Komunis Malaya, 1930–1989), operated legally from 1945–1948. After it was banned, the party went underground as the Malayan Races Liberation Army to conduct an armed rebellion. In 1970, the former 8th Regiment of the Malayan Races Liberation Army, the armed wing of the CPM, broke away to form the Maoist Communist Party of Malaya (Revolutionary Faction). In 1974, a third split occurred among cadres who wanted the CPM to end its ideological opposition to the larger Malaysian federation and formed the Communist Party of Malaya (Marxist-Leninist).
Young Malays Union (KMM; Kesatuan Melayu Muda, 1938–1945), first nationalist political party established in British Malaya
Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM/MNP; ms:Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya, 1945–1948), first left-wing Malays party advocating socialism
Malayan Democratic Union (MDU; ms:Kesatuan Demokratik Malaya, 1945–1948)
Conscious Youth Front (API; ms:Angkatan Pemuda Insaf, 1946–1947), left-wing Malay youth socialist party. The party became the first political party banned by the British Government.
Conscious Women Front (AWAS; Angkatan Wanita Sedar, 1946–1948), left-wing Malay women socialist party.
All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA; Majlis Tindakan Bersama Se-Malaya, 1946–1948), the first all-race political action in Malaya
United Malays Organisation (UMO; ms:Pertubuhan Melayu Bersatu, 1946), right-wing Malay party
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO/PEKEMBAR; Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu, 1946–1988), right-wing Malays party
Malayan Indian Congress (MIC; Kongres India Malaya, 1946–1963), right wing Indian party
Pan-Malayan Farmer Front (BATAS; ms:Barisan Tani Se-Malaya, 1947–1948)
Pan-Malayan Supreme Religion Council (MATA; ms:Majlis Agama Tinggi Se-Malaya, 1947–1948)
Malayan New Democratic Youth League (MNDYL; ms:Liga Pemuda Demokratik Baru Malaya, 1947–1948)
Movement of Youth Corps (GERAM; ms:Gerakan Angkatan Muda, 1947–1948)
People's United Front (PUTERA; Pusat Tenaga Rakyat, 1947–1948), left-wing multiracial party
Hizbul Muslimin (1948)
Malay Radical Youth (PERAM; ms:Pemuda Radikal Melayu, 1948)
Malayan Chinese Association (MCA; Persatuan Cina Malaya, 1949–1963)
Radical Party (ms:Parti Radikal, 1951–1952)
Alliance (Perikatan, 1951–1973) was expanded to include other component parties beyond the original 3, UMNO, MCA and MIC, and renamed the National Front (Barisan Nasional)
Independence of Malaya Party (IMP; Parti Kemerdekaan Malaya, 1951–1954)
Pan-Malayan Islamic Organisation (ms:Persatuan Islam Se-Malaya, 1951–1955)
Penang Labour Party (ms:Parti Buruh Pulau Pinang, 1951–1952)
Malacca Labour Party (ms:Parti Buruh Melaka, 1951–1952)
Perak Labour Party (ms:Parti Buruh Perak, 1951–1952)
Selangor Labour Party (Parti Buruh Selangor, 1951–1952)
Pan-Malayan Labour Party (Parti Buruh Se-Malaya, 1952–1954)
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT, 1953–?) is an international political movement with a branch in Malaysia.
Perak Progressive Party (PPP; ms:Parti Progresif Perak, 1953–1956)
National Association of Perak (NAP; ms:Parti Kebangsaan Perak, 1953–1957)
National Party (Parti Negara, 1953–1962)
Labour Party of Malaya (Lab/LPM; Parti Buruh Malaya, 1954–1969)
Labour Front (1954–1960)
Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP; Parti Islam Se-Malaya, 1955–1973)
Malayan People's Party (Ra'ayat; Partai Ra'ayat Malaya, 1955–1970)
Malayan Socialist Youth League (MSYL; ms:Liga Pemuda Sosialis Malaya, 1956–1958)
Malayan Party (ms:Parti Malaya, 1956–1964)
Malayan Peoples' Socialist Front (SF; Fron Sosialis Rakyat Malaya, 1957–1969)
Malayan Ceylonese Congress (MCC; ms:Kongres Ceylonese Malaya, 1958–1970)
National Party of Sarawak (PANAS; ms:Parti Negara Sarawak, 1960–1968)
Socialist Front (BS; Barisan Sosialis, 1961)
United National Kadazan Organisation (UNKO; Parti Kebangsaan Kadazan Bersatu, 1961–1964)
United Sabah National Organisation (USNO; Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Sabah Bersatu, 1961–1994)
Sarawak Native People's Front (BARJASA; ms:Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak, 1961–1968)
Sarawak National Party (SNAP; Parti Kebangsaan Sarawak, 1961–2013) joined Perikatan in 1963 but was expelled in 1965, rejoined again the new Barisan Nasional coalition in 1976 but was expelled again from the coalition in 2004. SNAP joined Pakatan Rakyat on 20 April 2010. SNAP quits Pakatan Rakyat on 6 May 2011. On 17 January 2013, the Federal Court of Malaysia declared that SNAP is no longer a registered party because the party did not furnish evidence that leadership tussle in the party has been resolved.
North Borneo Democratic Party (ms:Parti Demokratik Borneo Utara, 1962)
United Party (ms:Parti Bersatu, 1962–1963)
North Borneo National Party (ms:Parti Kebangsaaan Borneo Utara, 1962)
United Pasokmomogun Organisation (ms:Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Bersatu, 1962–1964)
Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA; ms:Persatuan Cina Sarawak, 1962–?)
Sarawak Native's Heritage Party (PESAKA; ms:Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak, 1962–1973)
Sabah Chinese Association (SCA; ms:Persatuan Cina Sabah, 1962–1979)
United Democratic Party (UDP; ms:Parti Demokratik Bersatu, 1962–1967)
Sarawak Alliance (ms:Perikatan Sarawak, 1962–1973)
Sabah Alliance (ms:Perikatan Sabah, 1962–1973)
Sabah National Party (SANAP; ms:Parti Kebangsaan Sabah, 1963–?)
National Convention Party (PPK; Parti Perhimpunan Kebangsaan, 1963–1965)
MACHINDA Party (ms:Parti MACHINDA, 1964–?)
United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation (UPKO; Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazan Bersatu, 1964–1967)
Sabah Indian Congress (SIC; ms:Kongres India Sabah, 1964–?)
Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC; Konvensyen Solidariti Malaysia, 1965), was a confederation of political parties formed in 9 May until 9 August 1965 to oppose Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia.
Bumiputera Party (BUMIPUTERA; ms:Parti Bumiputera, 1967–1973)
Malaysian Marhaen Party (PMM; Parti Marhaen Malaysia, 1968–1974)
United Malaysian Chinese Organisation (UMCO; Pertubuhan Cina Malaysia Bersatu, 1969–?)
United Sabah Action Party (USAP; ms:Parti Tindakan Sabah Bersatu, 1970–1974)
Communist Party of Malaya (Revolutionary Faction) (CPM-RF; Parti Komunis Malaya (Puak Revolusioner), 1970–?)
Malaysian People's Socialist Party (PSRM; Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia, 1970–1989)
Malaysian Social Justice Party (PEKEMAS; Parti Keadilan Masyarakat Malaysia, 1972–1982)
North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP; Parti Komunis Kalimantan Utara, 1971–1990) never operated as a legal political entity.
Communist Party of Malaya (Marxist-Leninist) (CPM-ML; Parti Komunis Malaya (Marxis-Leninis), 1974–?)
Independent People's Progressive Party (IPPP; ms:Parti Progresif Penduduk Bebas, 1974–?)
Homeland Consciousness Union (KITA; ms:Kesatuan Insaf Tanah Air, 1974–?)
Sarawak People's National Party (PNRS or NEGARA; ms:Parti Negara Rakyat Sarawak, 1974–?)
Sabah People's United Front (BERJAYA; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah, 1976–1991)
United Sabah Assembly Party (PUSAKA; ms:Parti Perhimpunan Sabah Bersatu, 1977–1978)
Sarawak People's Organisation (SAPO; ms:Pertubuhan Rakyat Sarawak, 1978–?)
Social Democratic Party (SDP; ms:Parti Sosial Demokratik, 1978–?)
Sarawak Native's Party (PAJAR; ms:Parti Anak Jati Sarawak, 1978)
Sarawak United Democratic Party (BERSATU; ms:Parti Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu, 1978–?)
United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation (PASOK; Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Pasok Nunukragang Bersatu, 1978–2008)
Malaysian Workers Party (PPM; ms:Parti Pekerja-Pekerja Malaysia, 1978–2015)
Muslim People's Party of Malaysia (HAMIM; Parti Hizbul Muslimin Malaysia, 1983–?)
Sarawak Native People's Party (PBDS; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak, 1983–2004), succeeded by the two offshoot parties, one is successfully registered Sarawak People's Party (PRS) while another Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) failed to be registered by ROS.
Sarawak United Labour Party (ms:Parti Buruh Bersatu Sarawak, 1983–?)
Sarawak United Bumiputera People's Party (BERSEPADU; ms:Parti Bersatu Rakyat Bumiputera Sabah, 1984–?)
Malaysian Nationalist Party (NASMA; ms:Parti Nasionalis Malaysia, 1985–?)
Democratic Malaysian Indian Party (DMIP; ms:Parti Demokratik India Malaysia, 1985–1997)
Sabah Chinese Party (SCP; ms:Parti Cina Sabah, 1986–?)
Malaysian Solidarity Party (MSP; ms:Parti Solidariti Malaysia, 1986–?)
People's Justice Movement (HAK; ms:Harakah Keadilan Rakyat, 1986), informal coalition between PAS and PRM.
Sarawak Malaysian People's Association (PERMAS; Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak, 1987–1991)
Spirit of 46 Malay Party (S46; Parti Melayu Semangat 46, 1989–1996)
Sabah People's Party (ms:Parti Rakyat Sabah, 1989–1991)
People's Justice Front (AKAR; ms:Angkatan Keadilan Rakyat, 1989–2001)
People's Might (GR; Gagasan Rakyat, 1989–1996), informal coalition
Muslims Unity Movement (APU; Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah, 1989–1996), informal coalition
Community Unity Party (PPM; ms:Parti Perpaduan Masyarakat, ?)
Malaysian Independence Party (PMM; ms:Parti Merdeka Malaysia, ?)
Malaysian National Momogun Party (MOMOGUN; ms:Parti Momogun Kebangsaan Malaysia, ?)
Sarawak People's National Party (PNRS; ms:Parti Negara Rakyat Sarawak, ?)
Sabah Chinese United Party (PCBS; ms:Parti Cina Bersatu Sabah, ?)
United Action Party (ms:Parti Tindakan Bersatu, 1990–?)
Muslim Community Union of Malaysia (IKATAN; Ikatan Masyarakat Islam Malaysia, 1991–1999), the constitution of the party was amended to change the name of the party to the National Justice Party (KeADILan).
United Democratic Sabah People's Power Party (SETIA; Parti Demokratik Setiahati Kuasa Rakyat Bersatu Sabah, 1994–2011) was renamed as Malaysian United People's Party (MUPP).
Sabah Democratic Party (PDS; ms:Parti Demokratik Sabah, 1994–1999) was renamed as United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO)
Malaysian Human's Justice Front (AKIM; Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia, 1995–2010) was later renamed as Homeland Human's Wellbeing Party (KITA) on 13 December 2010 by its new chairman, Zaid Ibrahim.
Federated Sabah People's Front (BERSEKUTU; Barisan Rakyat Sabah Bersekutu, 1998–2010), succeeded by the establishment of Sabah People's Front (SPF)
Alternative Front (BA; Barisan Alternatif, 1998–2004), informal coalition between PAS, KeADILan, DAP and PRM formed before 1999 general election.
Conscious People's Movement (AIR; ms:Angkatan Insaf Rakyat, 1999), informal coalition of five PAS splinter parties in Kelantan (led by Malaysian People's Justice Movement) to contest against PAS and Barisan Nasional in the 1999 general election.
National Justice Party (KeADILan; Parti KeADILan Nasional, 1999–2003), this entity subsequently was renamed the People's Justice Party (PKR).
Malaysian People's Reform Party (PRIM; ms:Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia, 1999–2009), had failed to be registered by ROS.
Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC; Kongres Dayak Malaysia, 2005) has failed to obtain registration as a society to date. Candidates of the MDC have participated in elections as Independents or on other party's tickets.
National Student Party (PMN; ms:Parti Mahasiswa Negara, 2008) was set up by a group university student but faced legal obstacle in registering for contravening the University and University College Act (UUCA).
People's Pact (PR; Pakatan Rakyat, 2008–2015), informal coalition between PKR, DAP, PAS and SNAP formed after the 2008 general election.
Malaysian Indian Democratic Action Front (MINDRAF; ms:Barisan Bertindak Demokratik India Malaysia, 2009) has failed to be registered by ROS and been inactive since the formation of Human Right Party (HRP).
Sarawak People's Energy Party (TERAS; ms:Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak, 2013–2016)
State Reform Party (STAR; Parti Reformasi Negeri, 1996–2016)
Sabah Heritage Development Party (PPWS; Parti Pembangunan Warisan Sabah, 2013–2016)
