Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about a range of topics, including politics and government. Understanding the specific vocabulary used in these contexts can greatly enhance your ability to comprehend and participate in political discourse in Malay-speaking regions. Here are some essential Malay words for politics and government, complete with definitions and example sentences to help you on your language learning journey.

Kerajaan
Kerajaan translates to “government” in English and refers to the group of people that governs a community or country.
Kerajaan baru itu telah mengumumkan pelan pembangunan ekonomi yang ambisius.

Politik
Politik is the Malay word for “politics,” encompassing the activities associated with governance, political actions, policies, and affairs.
Diskusi mengenai politik sering menyebabkan pertikaian antara rakan-rakan.

Undang-undang
The term undang-undang is equivalent to “law” in English. It covers the system of rules that a country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members.
Semua rakyat harus mematuhi undang-undang yang ditetapkan oleh kerajaan.

Perlembagaan
Perlembagaan means “constitution,” denoting the system of fundamental principles according to which a state is governed.
Perlembagaan negara itu menggariskan hak-hak asasi manusia dan tanggungjawab kerajaan.

Demokrasi
Demokrasi describes the system of “democracy,” where the power to govern is vested in the hands of the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
Demokrasi membolehkan rakyat memilih pemimpin mereka melalui proses pilihan raya yang adil.

Parti politik
This phrase stands for a “political party,” an organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions seeking to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected.
Dia telah menyertai parti politik kerana ingin membuat perubahan sosial.

Pilihan raya
Pilihan raya is the term for “election,” a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Pilihan raya umum akan diadakan pada bulan September yang akan datang.

Pengundi
Pengundi refers to a “voter,” an individual who has the right to vote in an election.
Setiap pengundi perlu mendaftar sebelum tarikh tutup pendaftaran pilihan raya.

Kabinet
Kabinet translates to “cabinet,” the group of high-ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch, selected to head the various departments and advise the head of government.
Perdana Menteri akan mengumumkan ahli kabinetnya minggu depan.

Dewan Negara
Dewan Negara is known as the “Senate” in some countries, and is the upper house of the Parliament in Malaysia.
Anggota Dewan Negara berperanan untuk meneliti serta membahaskan rang undang-undang yang telah lulus di Dewan Rakyat.

Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat is comparable to the “House of Representatives” and is the lower house of Malaysia’s bicameral parliament.
Anggota Dewan Rakyat terpilih melalui pilihan raya dan bertugas untuk mewakili suara rakyat.

Understanding these terms will not only enhance your knowledge of the language but also enable you to grasp the intricacies of Malay political and government structures. With these words and example sentences, you’re now better equipped to follow political news and engage in discussions with native Malay speakers about current events and governance. Happy learning!