Premier of Sarawak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Premier of Sarawak |
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Flag of Sarawak
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Coat of arms of Sarawak
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 Abang Johari Openg since 1 March 2022 |
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| Government of Sarawak Premier's Department |
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| Style | Premier (informal) Yang Amat Berhormat (formal) The Right Honourable (within the Commonwealth) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| 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 (as Chief Minister) 1 March 2022 (as Premier) |
| Deputy | Deputy Premier of Sarawak |
| Website | premier.sarawak.gov.my |
The Premier of Sarawak (Malay: Premier Sarawak) is the main leader of the government in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The Governor of Sarawak chooses the Premier. This person is also the head of the political party or group of parties that wins the most seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.
This important job was called Chief Minister of Sarawak before. On 15 February 2022, the state government changed the name to "Premier." This change became official on 1 March 2022.
Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg became the sixth and last Chief Minister of Sarawak on 13 January 2017. After the title changed, he became the first Premier on 1 March 2022.
Contents
History of the Premier Role
The job of Premier of Sarawak started as Chief Minister of Sarawak. This happened on 22 July 1963. That was when Sarawak gained the right to govern itself. Stephen Kalong Ningkan was the very first person to hold this position.
In February 2022, there was a plan to change the title from Chief Minister to Premier. This was part of Sarawak's efforts to get back its special rights. These rights were agreed upon in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63). The new name also helps Sarawak stand out from other states like Penang and Malacca. These states also have a chief minister. Sarawak was one of the original signers of MA63. Other signers included Britain, Singapore, the Federation of Malaya, and Sabah. This agreement led to the formation of Malaysia.
On 15 February, the title of Chief Minister officially changed to Premier. This happened after the Sarawak state constitution was successfully updated. The new law was made official and started on 1 March. Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg was the Chief Minister before this change. He then became the first Premier of Sarawak.
How the Premier is Chosen
The Constitution of the State of Sarawak explains how the Premier is chosen. The Governor first picks the Premier to lead the Cabinet. The Premier must be a member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. The Governor believes this person has the support of most members in the Assembly. Also, the Premier must be a true Sarawakian by birth, not by becoming a citizen later.
The Premier then advises the Governor on choosing other Ministers. There can be no more than ten and no fewer than four Ministers. The Governor also appoints deputy ministers.
Before they can start their jobs, the Premier and Cabinet Ministers must take an oath. They promise to do their duty and keep secrets. The Cabinet works together and is responsible to the Assembly. Cabinet members cannot hold other jobs that make money. They also cannot do business that would cause a conflict of interest. Unlike the Premier, other Ministers and Deputy Ministers serve as long as the Governor wishes.
If a Premier loses a lot of support, they might have to leave office. This can happen if they lose their seat in the Assembly. It can also happen if their plans are not supported by the Assembly members. If this happens, the Premier can legally be removed. They must then name an Acting Premier for a short time (80 days). This is until the Governor agrees to appoint a new Premier. A special group will be set up to help choose the new Premier.
If a Premier resigns, loses an election, gets very sick, or passes away, the Governor chooses a new one. The new Premier is usually the person chosen by the winning party in the state election.
What the Premier Can Do
The Premier is the main leader of the government in Sarawak. Both the country's constitution and the state's constitution give the Premier many powers.
Here are some of the things the Premier can do:
- Talk with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (Malaysia's King) about choosing the Governor.
- Talk with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong about choosing an Acting Governor.
- Advise the Governor on who should represent the Governor at the Conference of Rulers.
- Advise the Governor on choosing Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
- Ask for the State Legislative Assembly to be dissolved, which means new elections.
- Advise the Governor to remove a Cabinet Minister from their job.
- Advise the Governor on choosing the State Secretary, State Attorney General, and State Financial Secretary.
- Advise the Governor on choosing the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly.
- Advise the Governor on choosing the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and members of the State Public Service Commission.
The Premier's power has some limits. If the Premier is removed as leader of their party, they might have to resign. If the government loses a vote of no confidence in the Assembly, the Premier must ask for an election or resign. If the government cannot pass important laws, especially those about spending money, the Premier might also have to resign.
Usually, the Premier's party has the most seats in the Assembly. Also, party members in Sarawak tend to follow their party's decisions very closely. This means that laws proposed by the government usually pass easily.
Acting Premier of Sarawak
An Acting Premier is appointed only if the Premier is sick for a long time or passes away. To be an Acting Premier, a person needs a lot of experience. This includes experience in politics, money matters, law, social issues, education, science, technology, sports, and religion. The Acting Premier serves for only 80 days. This gives time for the Governor to fully appoint a new Premier. The new Premier is chosen through a selection process, often by a new government cabinet or state elections.
List of Leaders
Chief Ministers of Sarawak (1963–2022)
Colour key (for political groups):
Sarawak Alliance PESAKA Barisan Nasional Gabungan Parti Sarawak
| No. | Portrait | Name Constituency (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Party | Election | Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| 1 |  |
Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1920–1997) |
22 July 1963 |
23 September 1966 |
3 years, 63 days | Alliance (SNAP) |
1963 | – | |
| 2 |  |
Tawi Sli (1912–1987) |
23 September 1966 |
7 July 1970 |
3 years, 287 days | PESAKA | – | – | |
| 3 |  |
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 |  |
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 |  |
Adenan Satem MLA for Tanjong Datu (1944–2017) |
1 March 2014 |
11 January 2017 |
2 years, 317 days | BN (PBB) |
– | ||
| 2016 | 18th | ||||||||
| 6 | |
Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg MLA for Satok (until 2021) MLA for Gedong (from 2021) (born 1950) |
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 groups):
Gabungan Parti Sarawak
| No. | Portrait | Name Constituency (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Party | Election | Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| (6) | |
Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg MLA for Gedong (born 1950) |
1 March 2022 |
Incumbent | 3 years, 119 days | GPS (PBB) |
– | 19th | |
Life After Being Premier
Some former chief ministers had important careers after leaving their job. They were often chosen to become the Governor. Two former chief ministers became Governor soon after leaving office: Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The most recent former chief minister to pass away was Abdul Taib Mahmud. He served from 1981 to 2014. He died on 21 February 2024, at 87 years old.
See also
- Constitution of the State of Sarawak
