Premier of Sarawak

The premier of Sarawak (Malay: Premier Sarawak) is the head of government of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The premier is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak. The premier is also the leader of the political party or coalition that secures a majority in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.^[1][2]

Premier of Sarawak
Premier Sarawak
Coat of arms of Sarawak
Flag of Sarawak
Incumbent Abang Johari Openg since 1 March 2022
Government of Sarawak Premier's Department
Style	Premier (informal) Yang Amat Berhormat (formal) The Right Honourable (within the Commonwealth) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Status	Head of government
Member of	Cabinet Premier's Department State Legislative Assembly
Reports to	Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Seat	Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya, Kuching
Appointer	Governor
Term length	Five years, renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Sarawak
Inaugural holder	Stephen Kalong Ningkan (Chief Minister) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg (Premier)
Formation	22 July 1963; 61 years ago (1963-07-22) (as Chief Minister) 1 March 2022; 2 years ago (2022-03-01) (as Premier)
Deputy	Deputy Premier of Sarawak
Website	premier.sarawak.gov.my

This office was known as Chief Minister of Sarawak before an amendment to the state constitution regarding the matter was successfully passed on 15 February 2022, renaming the post to "premier".^[3] The constitutional amendment was gazetted and came into effect on 1 March 2022.

Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg assumed office as the sixth and final chief minister of Sarawak on 13 January 2017. Following an amendment to the title, he became the first and current premier since 1 March 2022.^[4][5]

History

Main article: History of Sarawak

The post of Premier of Sarawak was created as Chief Minister of Sarawak on 22 July 1963 when Sarawak was given self-government, with Stephen Kalong Ningkan being the first inaugural to lead the office.^[6]

A proposal to change the title of Chief Minister to Premier was made in February 2022, as an aspect of Sarawak's efforts to reclaim its rights under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63).^[7] In addition, the office was proposed to be renamed so that Sarawak would not be compared to other states like Penang and Malacca, which also have a chief minister to lead their state government.^[7] Along with Britain, Singapore, the Federation of Malaya, and Sabah, Sarawak was one of the signatories of MA63 during the formation of Malaysia.^[7]

On 15 February, the position of Chief Minister was changed to Premier following a successful amendment to the Sarawak state constitution.^[8] The constitutional amendment was gazetted and came into effect on 1 March. Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg, who had previously served as the sixth Chief Minister before the post was rebranded, became the first Premier of Sarawak.^[9]

Appointment

According to the Article 3(6)(a) of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak,^[2] the governor shall first appoint the premier to preside over the Cabinet and requires such premier to be a member of the Legislative Assembly who, in the former's judgment, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Council Negri. The premier must not be a Sarawakian by naturalisation or registration.

The Governor will appoint not more than ten nor less than four Ministers on the premier's advice.^[2] The governor will also appoint deputy ministers under Article 7A of the state constitution.^{[2] [citation needed]}

The Premier and the Cabinet Ministers must take and subscribe in the presence of Governor the oath of office and allegiance as well as the oath of secrecy before they can exercise the functions of office. In line with the Westminster system's principles of "collective responsibility" codified in the State Constitution, the Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Council Negri. The members of the Cabinet are prohibited from holding any office of profit and engage in any trade, business or profession that will cause conflict of interest. Unlike the Premier, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers hold office at the pleasure of Governor Articles 7(3) and 7A(3), Sarawak State Constitution.^{[citation needed]}

If a Premier has such a low amount of vote supports, completely loses his status as a Member of the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN), loses his deposit during the state election, or any implementation or presentation that is found not to be fully supported by any Member of the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN), then the Premier of Sarawak has the right to terminate from his service legally, with the condition that he must announce the appointment of the Acting Premier as a replacement for a temporary period (for 80 days only), until he gets the consent from the Governor of Sarawak to appoint a new Premier of Sarawak. At the same time, a special committee on the appointment of the new Premier of Sarawak will be established. ^{[citation needed]}

Following a resignation in other circumstances, defeat in a general election or state election, illness, or the death of a current Premier, the Governor of Sarawak has the right to appoint the person as the new Premier of Sarawak, as the person is voted by the new governing party, with the majority vote during state election.^{[citation needed]}

Powers

The Premier is the Head of Government in the State of Sarawak. Both the Federal Constitution and State Constitution as well as other legislations accord various authorities upon the office of the Premier.

Specific provisions of the State Constitution that expresses the authority of the Premier include:-

• Art. 1(1): Consulting with the Yang Di-Pertua Agong on the appointment of Governor;
• Art. 1(3): Consulting with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the appointment of the Acting Governor;
• Art. 1(5): Advising Governor, with the consent of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, appointing a person taking the Governor place or representing the Governor at the Conference of Rulers;
• Art. 6(3)(b): Advising Governor the appointment of Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers;
• Art. 7(1): Request for the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly;
• Art. 7(2): Advising the Governor on the revocation of the appointment of a Cabinet Minister;
• Art. 11: Advising Governor on the appointment of the State Secretary, State Attorney General, and State Financial Secretary;
• Art. 15(1)(a) & (b): Advising the Governor on the appointment of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly; and
• Art. 35(1): Advising Governor on the appointment of the Chairman, Deputy chairman, and members of the State Public Service Commission.

The power of the premier is subject to a number of limitations. Premiers removed as leader of his or her party, or whose government loses a vote of no confidence in the Legislative Assembly, must advise a state election or resign the office or be dismissed by Governor. The defeat of a supply bill (one that concerns the spending of money) or unable to pass important policy-related legislation is seen to require the resignation of the government or dissolution of Legislative Assembly, much like a non-confidence vote, since a government that cannot spend money is hamstrung, also called loss of supply.

The premier's party will normally have a majority in the Legislative Assembly and party discipline is exceptionally strong in Sarawakian politics, so passage of the government's legislation through the Legislative Assembly is mostly a formality.

Acting Premier of Sarawak

The appointment of an acting Premier will only be implemented if a Premier is confirmed to be ill for a long period of time or dies due to illness. To appoint an acting Premier, he must have extensive experience in politics, economics, legal affairs, social affairs & people's unity, education, science & technology, sports, and religious affairs. The appointment period of the acting Premier will only be given for 80 days only, until the consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak to fully implement the appointment of the new Premier of Sarawak, on the condition that through the selection method of the new Sarawak government cabinet lineup, namely through government cabinet elections, or as directly using state government elections.

List

Chief Ministers of Sarawak (1963–2022)

Colour key (for political coalitions):
  Sarawak Alliance   PESAKA   Barisan Nasional   Gabungan Parti Sarawak

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death) Constituency	Term of office			Party[lower-alpha 1]		Election	Assembly
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1920–1997)	22 July 1963	23 September 1966	3 years, 63 days		Alliance (SNAP)	1963	–
2		Tan Sri Tawi Sli (1912–1987)	23 September 1966	7 July 1970	3 years, 287 days		PESAKA	–	–
3		Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Ya'kub MLA for Kuala Rajang (1928–2015)	7 July 1970	26 March 1981	10 years, 263 days		Alliance (BUMIPUTERA)	1969	8th
							BN (PBB)	1974	9th
								1979	10th
4		Tan Sri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud MLA for Sebandi (until 1991) MLA for Asajaya (1991–2001) MLA for Balingian (from 2001) (1936–2024)	26 March 1981	28 February 2014	32 years, 340 days		BN (PBB)	–
								1983	11th
								1987	12th
								1991	13th
								1996	14th
								2001	15th
								2006	16th
								2011	17th
5		Tan Sri Pehin Sri Haji Adenan Satem MLA for Tanjong Datu (1944–2017)	1 March 2014	11 January 2017	2 years, 317 days		BN (PBB)	–
								2016	18th
6		Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg (born 1950) MLA for Satok (until 2021) MLA for Gedong (from 2021)	13 January 2017	1 March 2022	5 years, 48 days		BN (PBB)	–
							GPS (PBB)
								2021	19th

Premiers of Sarawak (2022–present)

Colour key (for political coalitions):
  Gabungan Parti Sarawak

No.	Portrait	Name Constituency (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party[lower-alpha 2]		Election	Assembly
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
(6)		Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg (born 1950) MLA for Gedong	1 March 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 246 days		GPS (PBB)	–	19th

1. This column names only the Chief Minister's party. The state government he heads may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; those are not listed here.
2. This column names only the Premier's party. The state government he heads may be a complex coalition of several parties and independents; those are not listed here.

Life after office

A few former chief ministers had important careers after leaving office. Usually, they are appointed to become the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor). There were two former chief ministers who were appointed as Governor shortly after they left office: Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The most recent passing of the chief minister occurred with the death of Abdul Taib Mahmud, who served from 1981 to 2014. He died on 21 February 2024, at the age of 87.

See also

• Constitution of the State of Sarawak

References

1. Federal Constitution (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
2. Constitution of the State of Sarawak.
3. Wen, Lok Jian (15 February 2022). "Sarawak vote to call its leader 'premier' could be first step to greater autonomy". The Straits Times. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
4. "Abang Jo sworn in as Sarawak's 6th Chief Minister". The Star. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
5. "Biography of the Chief Minister". Official Website Office of the Chief Minister. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
6. "Revisiting 48 years of leadership". The Borneo Post. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
7. "Abdul Karim: 'Premier' instead of CM because Sarawak's different from other states in Malaysia". 15 February 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
8. "Chief Minister's post officially renamed to Premier after vote passes in Sarawak DUN". 15 February 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
9. "Sarawak CM known as Premier from Tuesday (March 1)". 1 March 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.