The nine Malay States have a hereditary Ruler as titular Head of state and an executive Chief Minister or Menteri Besar as politically responsible Head of government. The rulers of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Terengganu are styled Sultans (typically Islamic). Only Negeri Sembilan's elective ruler holds the rare, autochthonous Malay title of 
Yang di-Pertuan Besar, whereas only the Ruler of Perlis is titled Raja. The Federal King (titled Yang di-Pertuan Agong) is elected (de facto rotated) among the nine rulers to serve a 5-year term. Former British settlements and crown colonies of Penang and Malacca (both peninsular) and Sabah and Sarawak (both on Borneo) each have a federally appointed titular Governor (styled Yang di-Pertua Negeri) and an executive Chief Minister or Ketua Menteri. Each state has a unicameral legislature called Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN, State Assembly). Members of DUN are elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on the population. The state leader of the majority party in DUN is usually appointed Chief Minister by the Ruler or Governor.
The term of DUN members is five years unless the assembly is dissolved earlier by the Ruler or Governor on the advise of the Chief Minister. Usually, DUN of the states in Peninsular Malaysia are dissolved in conjunction with the dissolution of the federal parliament, in order to have state elections running concurrently with the parliamentary election. However, Rulers and Governors hold discretionary powers in dissolving the DUN. Each state sends two representatives to the Dewan Negara (Senate), the upper house of the federal parliament. As Malaysia is a federation, the governance of the country is divided between the federal and the state governments. The specific responsibilities of the federal and the state governments are listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of Malaysia. Theoretically, any matter not set out in the Ninth Schedule can be legislated on by the individual states. However, legal scholars generally view this as a "pauper's bequest" because of the large scope of the matters listed in the Ninth Schedule. The courts themselves have generally favoured a broad interpretation of the language of the Ninth Schedule, thus limiting the number of possible subjects not covered. The Ninth Schedule specifically lists the following matters as those that can only be legislated on by the states: land tenure, the Islamic religion, and local government. Sabah and Sarawak have additional powers as part of the terms when they joined Malaysia, such as immigration controls.
The Parliament of Malaysia is permitted to legislate on issues of land, Islamic religion and local government in order to provide for a uniform law between different states, or on the request of the state assembly concerned. The law in question must also be passed by the state assembly as well, except in the case of certain land law-related subjects. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated on at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations.
Malaysia is made up of 13 states with two federal territories. The list of the varions states and their capitals including the territories :
Yang di-Pertuan Besar, whereas only the Ruler of Perlis is titled Raja. The Federal King (titled Yang di-Pertuan Agong) is elected (de facto rotated) among the nine rulers to serve a 5-year term. Former British settlements and crown colonies of Penang and Malacca (both peninsular) and Sabah and Sarawak (both on Borneo) each have a federally appointed titular Governor (styled Yang di-Pertua Negeri) and an executive Chief Minister or Ketua Menteri. Each state has a unicameral legislature called Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN, State Assembly). Members of DUN are elected from single-member constituencies drawn based on the population. The state leader of the majority party in DUN is usually appointed Chief Minister by the Ruler or Governor.
The term of DUN members is five years unless the assembly is dissolved earlier by the Ruler or Governor on the advise of the Chief Minister. Usually, DUN of the states in Peninsular Malaysia are dissolved in conjunction with the dissolution of the federal parliament, in order to have state elections running concurrently with the parliamentary election. However, Rulers and Governors hold discretionary powers in dissolving the DUN. Each state sends two representatives to the Dewan Negara (Senate), the upper house of the federal parliament. As Malaysia is a federation, the governance of the country is divided between the federal and the state governments. The specific responsibilities of the federal and the state governments are listed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of Malaysia. Theoretically, any matter not set out in the Ninth Schedule can be legislated on by the individual states. However, legal scholars generally view this as a "pauper's bequest" because of the large scope of the matters listed in the Ninth Schedule. The courts themselves have generally favoured a broad interpretation of the language of the Ninth Schedule, thus limiting the number of possible subjects not covered. The Ninth Schedule specifically lists the following matters as those that can only be legislated on by the states: land tenure, the Islamic religion, and local government. Sabah and Sarawak have additional powers as part of the terms when they joined Malaysia, such as immigration controls.The Parliament of Malaysia is permitted to legislate on issues of land, Islamic religion and local government in order to provide for a uniform law between different states, or on the request of the state assembly concerned. The law in question must also be passed by the state assembly as well, except in the case of certain land law-related subjects. Non-Islamic issues that fall under the purview of the state may also be legislated on at the federal level for the purpose of conforming with Malaysian treaty obligations.
Malaysia is made up of 13 states with two federal territories. The list of the varions states and their capitals including the territories :
| State | Known as | Capitals |
| Perlis | Land of Rustic Beauty | Kangar |
| Kedah | Land With a Rich Heritage | Alor Setar |
| Penang | The Pearl of the Orient | Georgetown |
| Perak | The Land of Grace | Ipoh |
| Selangor | The Heartland of the Nation | Shah Alam |
| Negeri Sembilan | Land of Minangkabau Tadition | Seremban |
| Malacca | Where It All Began | Melaka |
| Johor | The Southern Gateway | Johor Bahru |
| Pahang | Where Adventure Beckons | Kuantan |
| Terengganu | Land of Long Sandy Beaches and Turtles | Kuala Terengganu |
| Kelantan | The Cultural Capital | Kopta Bharu |
| Sabah | The Land Below the Wind | Kota KInabalu |
| Sarawak | The Hidden Paradise of Borneo | Kuching |
| Federal Territory | The Garden City of Light | Kuala Lumpur |
| Labuan (Federal Territory) | Malaysia's Pearl of the South China Sea | Labuan |
