Sabah State Legislative Assembly

Last updated

Sabah State Legislative Assembly

Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah
ديوان اوندڠن نݢري سابه
Langga' Tinukuan Pogun Sabah
沙巴州立法议会
16th Assembly
Sabah state legislative assembly.svg
Insignia of Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Type
Type
History
Founded1963 as Majlis Undangan
25 September 1976 as Dewan Undangan Negeri
Leadership
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Juhar Mahiruddin
since 1 January 2011
Speaker
Kadzim M. Yahya, BN-UMNO
since 8 October 2020
Deputy Speaker I
Al Hambra Juhar,Independent
since 19 June 2023
Deputy Speaker II
Richard Yong We Kong, GRS-SAPP
since 19 June 2023
Hajiji Noor, GRS-GAGASAN
since 29 September 2020
Opposition Leader
Shafie Apdal, WARISAN
since 29 September 2020
Secretary
Rafidah binti Maqbool Rahman
Deputy Secretary
Mohd Jayreh bin Jaya
Structure
Seats73 elected and up to 6 nominated
Svgfiles 2023-04-05-14-09-25-630924-2349168028605919101.svg
Political groups
(As of 21 May 2023)

Government (65)
  GRS (42)

Contents

  BN (13)

  PH (7)

  KDM (2)
  PN (1)

Opposition (14)
  WARISAN (14)

Speaker (1)

  BN (non-MLA)
Committees
  • Standing Committee
  • Public Accounts Committee
  • Committee of Privileges
[1]
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
26 September 2020
Next election
By 7 December 2025
Meeting place
KotaKinabalu Sabah DewanUndanganNegeriSabah-01.jpg
Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building, Likas, Kota Kinabalu
Website
www.sabah.gov.my/dun
Map of Sabah state constituencies (since 2020) PRN Sabah 2020.svg
Map of Sabah state constituencies (since 2020)

The Sabah State Legislative Assembly (Malay : Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah, Kadazandusun: Langga' Tinukuan Pogun Sabah) is a part of the legislature of Sabah, Malaysia, the other being the governor of Sabah. The assembly meets at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building at Likas in the state capital of Kota Kinabalu.

This unicameral legislature currently has 73 seats representing state constituencies elected through a first-past-the-post electoral system across the state.

Like at the federal level in Malaysia, Sabah uses a Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which members are elected to the legislative assembly through general elections, from which the chief minister and the cabinet are appointed based on majority support. The chief minister is head of government, while the governor acts as head of state. The largest party not forming the government is known as the official opposition, its leader being recognised as leader of the opposition by the speaker.

Members of the assembly refer to themselves as "Members of the Legislative Assembly" (MLAs) and sometimes as "state assemblymen".

The most recent assembly was elected on 26 September 2020. 73 members were elected into the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. As permitted by the State Constitution, the Governor may add six more as nominated MLAs. Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition consisting of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR), United Sabah Party (PBS), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Sabah People's Hope Party (PHRS), and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) re-formed the government on 25 May 2023 (Originally formed in September 2020 as informal coalition and registered in 2022 as official coalition).

Lawmaking

In accordance with the traditions of the Westminster system, most laws originate with the cabinet (government bills), and are passed by the legislature after stages of debate and decision-making. Ordinary members may introduce privately (private members' bills), play an integral role in scrutinising bills in debate and committee and amending bills presented to the legislature by cabinet.

Officeholders

Chair occupants

Chair occupants of the assembly are appointed by the governor on the chief minister's advice. Kadzim M. Yahya (BN-UMNO) has been the speaker since 8 October 2020. [2] He is assisted by two Deputy Speakers, Al Hambra Juhar (Independent) and Richard Yong We Kong (SAPP) who were both appointed on 19 June 2023.

Majority leader

The majority leader is always the chief minister, who also leads the Cabinet. He is appointed by the Governor on the basis that he is able to command a majority in the assembly. Hajiji Noor (GAGASAN-GRS), MLA for Sulaman, has been the chief minister since 29 Sep 2020.

Minority leader

The minority leader is always the leader of the opposition appointed by the largest party not forming the government. Following the defeat of Warisan Plus coalition in the recent state election, Mohd. Shafie Apdal (WARISAN), MLA for Senallang, becomes leader of the Opposition.

Officers

Speaker and Deputy Speaker

The Governor, on the advice of the Chief Minister, appoints one person from the membership of the Assembly or, in deviation from traditional Westminster practices, from non-members who are qualified to be elected as members of the Assembly, as the presiding officer of the Assembly, known as the Speaker, and another person from the membership of the Assembly to be Deputy Speaker. The lengths of their service are specified by the letters patent that appointed them; however, their term may end premature if they no longer qualify for the membership of the Assembly, they resign, or the Governor terminates their speakership on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Speaker is also disqualified from the chair if they have any personal interest in another organisation; the Deputy Speaker does not need to vacate their office if they have such interests, but is barred from presiding over any matter that affects their interests.

The Speaker or Deputy Speaker presides from a chair at the front of the chamber (opposite the entrance). A member who believes that a rule (or Standing Order) has been breached may raise a point of order , on which the Speaker makes a ruling that is not subject to any appeal. The Speaker may discipline members who fail to observe the rules of the Assembly. The Speaker or Deputy Speaker remain members of their respective parties while holding the speakership, but they are required by convention to act impartially while presiding over the Assembly. A Speaker or Deputy Speaker who is also an elected member of the Assembly retain voting rights, but by convention does not vote in proceedings they preside over except to break a tie, only doing so according to Speaker Denison's rule.

The following are the Speakers of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly since 1963: [3]

No.SpeakerTerm startTerm endPartyConstituency
1 Sir George N. Oehlers 23 September 196322 September 1964INDNon-MLA
2Haji Mohd. Kassim Haji Hashim23 September 196424 September 1975
3Abdul Momin Haji Kalakhan24 September 197510 May 1978
4Haji Mohd. Sunoh Marso11 May 197829 March 1986BERJAYA Lahad Datu
BN (BERJAYA)
5 Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia 31 March 198630 November 1987BN (USNO)Non-MLA
6Haji Hassan Alban Sandukong8 December 19874 December 2002Non-MLA
7 Juhar bin Haji Mahiruddin 5 December 200231 December 2010BN (UMNO)Non-MLA
8 Salleh Said Keruak 31 December 201028 July 2015BN (UMNO)Non-MLA
Usukan
9Syed Abas Syed Ali7 August 20156 October 2020BN (UMNO) Balung
INDNon-MLA
10Kadzim M Yahya8 October 2020IncumbentBN (UMNO)Non-MLA

Secretary and Deputy Secretary

The Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Legislative Assembly are civil servants that serve as the chief advisers of procedural matters, as well as head the day-to-day administration of the Assembly. They serve a similar role to the Clerk of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, advising the Speaker on the rules and procedure of the Assembly, signing orders and official communications, and signing and endorsing bills. They are permanent officials and not members of the Assembly. The Governor has the sole power to appoint or remove them.[ citation needed ]

Other officers

The Serjeant-at-Arms maintains the law, order and security of the Assembly, within the chamber and on the premises of the Assembly building. The Serjeant-at-Arms also carries the ceremonial mace, a symbol of the authority of the Governor and of the Legislative Assembly, into the chamber each day in front of the Speaker, and the mace is laid upon the Table of the Assembly during sittings.

Committees

The Legislative Assembly uses committees for a variety of purposes, e.g. for the review of bills. Committees consider bills in detail, and may make amendments. Bills of great constitutional importance, as well as some important financial measures, are usually committed to the Committee of the Whole House , a body that includes all members of the Assembly. This committee sits in the main chamber itself.

Committees can also be created for any purpose – these are known as Select Committees. However, the Select Committees of the Assembly primarily handle administrative matters of the chamber. For example, the Selection and Standing Orders Committee meet to select members of other committees as well as consider changes to the Standing Orders; the Public Petitions Committee handles petitions of any matter from the public; and the Privileges Committee considers questions of parliamentary privilege, as well as matters relating to the conduct of the members. [4] Committees need to be re-established at the beginning of each term. [5]

By party affliliation. 16th DUN Sabah by party.svg
By party affliliation.

List of Assemblies

AssemblyTerm
began
MembersElectionCabinetMajority party/coalition
1st1963AppointedFuad ISabah Alliance
2nd1965Peter Lo Su Yin ISabah Alliance
3rd196732Mustapha ISabah Alliance
4th197132Mustapha II (1971–1975)
Said I (1975–1976)
Sabah Alliance (1971–1973)
Barisan Nasional (1973–1975)

Sabah Alliance (1975–1976)

5th197648Fuad II (1976)
Haris II (1976–1981)
BERJAYA (1976)

Barisan Nasional (1976–1981)

6th198148Haris IIBarisan Nasional
7th198548Joseph IPBS–PASOK
8th198648Joseph IIBarisan Nasional
9th 1990 48Joseph IIIPBS
10th 1994 48Joseph IV (1994)
Sakaran I (1994)
Salleh I (1994–1996)
Yong Teck Lee I (1996–1998)
Bernard I (1998–1999)
PBS (1994)
Barisan Nasional (1994–1999)
11th 1999 48Sukam I (1999–2001)
Chong Kah Kiat I (2001–2003)
Musa I (2003–2004)
Barisan Nasional
12th 2004 60Musa IIBarisan Nasional
13th 2008 60Musa IIIBarisan Nasional
14th 2013 60Musa IVBarisan Nasional
15th 2018 60Musa V (2018)
Shafie I (2018–2020)
Barisan Nasional (2018)
Warisan–PH–UPKO (2018–2020)
16th 2020 73Hajiji I Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
  • PN–BN–PBS (2020–2022)
  • GRS–BN (2022–2023)
  • GRS–PH–BN (2023–)

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewan Rakyat</span> Lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia

    The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament, the federal legislature of Malaysia. The chamber and its powers are established by Article 44 of the Constitution of Malaysia. The Dewan Rakyat sits in the Houses of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, along with the Dewan Negara, the upper house.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Shafie Apdal</span> Malaysian politician

    Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie bin Apdal is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Semporna since April 1995, State Leader of the Opposition of Sabah since September 2020 and Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Senallang since May 2018. He served as the 15th Chief Minister and the State Minister of Finance of Sabah from May 2018 to September 2020, Minister of Rural and Regional Development from April 2009 to July 2015 and Vice-President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He has served as the 1st and founding President of Heritage Party (WARISAN) since October 2016. He lost the power as Chief Minister of Sabah following the defeat of his coalition WARISAN + in the 2020 state election.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Minister of Sabah</span> Head of Government of a Malaysian state

    The chief minister of Sabah is the head of government of Sabah, Malaysia. Since September 2020, the position has been held by Hajiji Noor from the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah from the coalition of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) which had won the 2020 Sabah state election. As in other parts of the Malaysian federation, the Westminster Parliamentary system is adopted, whereby, the leader of the party with the most seats in the state legislature would usually become the chief minister of Sabah. In other words, it is the person commanding the support of the state legislature. The chief minister is appointed by the head of state known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri. In comparison to other states in Malaysia, the office of the chief minister of Sabah has been held by a more diverse group of people in terms of ethnicity and religion. The post has been held by Kadazan-Dusuns, Bajaus, Malays, Chinese, Muruts, Rungus, Sungai, Idaans, and other persons of mixed heritage as well as being Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Anifah Aman</span> Malaysian politician

    Anifah bin Haji Aman @ Haniff Amman is a Malaysian politician who has served as Senator since March 2023, Chairman of the Labuan Corporation since June 2023, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor on International Relations and Foreign Investments since January 2023 and the 3rd President of the Love Sabah Party (PCS) since July 2020. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Primary Industries and Deputy Minister of Primary Industries in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Ministers Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak and former Ministers Lim Keng Yaik and Peter Chin Fah Kui from December 1999 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018 as well as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Beaufort from November 1999 to March 2004 and for Kimanis from March 2004 to August 2019 and for Beaufort from November 1999 to March 2004. He is a member of the PCS and was a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the BN coalition before leaving it to be an independent in September 2018 and joining PCS in 2020.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandikar Amin Mulia</span> Malaysian politician

    Pandikar Amin bin Mulia is a Malaysian politician who has served as President of United Sabah National Organisation (New) since February 2021. He served as 8th Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from April 2008 to April 2018, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from December 1999 to November 2002, State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Sabah from May 1997 to March 1999, State Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Sabah from March 1994 to May 1997, Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tempasuk from March 2004 to March 2008 and Usukan from 1982 to 1985 and President of the People's Justice Front (AKAR) from 1989 to 1995.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang State Legislative Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the Penang state government

    The Penang State Legislative Assembly is the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 40 elected lawmakers representing single-member constituencies throughout Penang. The state legislature, whose members are called State Assemblymen, convenes at the Penang State Assembly Building in Penang's capital city of George Town. The Penang State Executive Council, the executive branch of the Penang state government, is drawn from among the State Assemblymen.

    Datuk Raime Unggi is a Malaysian politician who has served as Nominated Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) since October 2020. He previously served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tenom from March 2004 to May 2018. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition which is aligned with the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Kiandee</span> Malaysian politician

    Ronald Kiandee is a Malaysian politician. A member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) and its Vice President since August 2020 and 2nd State Chairman of Sabah since December 2022, he has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Beluran since November 1999. He served as Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021. He was reappointed to the same post for a second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 until the dissolution of the BN government in November 2022, when BN lost its reelection campaign in the 2022 general election. Prior to serving in the Cabinet, Kiandee was the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration from 2018 to 2019 and Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat in the BN administration from 2008 to 2018. He is presently the sole MP from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party of Sabah.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Malacca State Legislative Assembly</span> Legislature of Malaysian state of Malacca

    The Malacca State Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Malacca. It is composed of 28 members who are elected from single-member constituencies throughout the state. Elections are held no more than five years apart, along with elections to the federal parliament and other state assemblies.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarawak State Legislative Assembly</span> Unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak

    The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is the legislative chamber of the unicameral legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak; the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak forms the other part of the legislature. The Assembly is modelled after the traditions of the Westminster parliamentary system, which originates from the practices of the British Parliament. The executive branch of government is drawn from the elected members of the Assembly. The State Legislative Assembly sits at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building located in Petra Jaya in Kuching, the state capital.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Salleh Said Keruak</span> Malaysian politician

    Datuk Seri Panglima Md Salleh bin Md Said, commonly known as Salleh Said Keruak, is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Usukan from February 1994 to March 2004, from May 2013 to May 2018 and again since September 2020. He served as the Minister of Communications and Multimedia in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak from July 2015 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018, 9th chief minister of Sabah from December 1994 to May 1996, Speaker of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly from December 2010 to July 2015, Senator from July 2015 to July 2018 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Belud from April 1995 to March 2008. He is also the son of Mohammad Said Keruak, the 4th chief minister of Sabah and the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah as well as the cousin of Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, the Kota Belud MP.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hajiji Noor</span> Malaysian politician

    Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 16th Chief Minister of Sabah since September 2020 and Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sulaman since October 1990. He is also the first official chairman of political coalition party in Sabah, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Party and 3rd President of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN).

    Datuk Yusof bin Yacob is a Malaysian politician who has served as Chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad since January 2023 and the Member of Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Sindumin since May 2018. He served as State Minister of Education and Innovation of Sabah in the Heritage Party (WARISAN) state administration under former Chief Minister Shafie Apdal from May 2018 to the collapse of the WARISAN administration in September 2020, Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from May 2004 to December 2007 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sipitang from April 1995 to March 2008. He is a member of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. He was a member of the WARISAN, before leaving the party on 8 October 2021 to become an independent in support of the ruling GRS coalition. He was also member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) which he left in 2018. On 22 May 2022, he confirmed that he had applied to rejoin and was pending return to BN and UMNO after leaving them four years ago. However, his application was not accepted before he withdrew the application and joined GAGASAN instead on 21 January 2023.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly</span> Current term of the legislature of Sabah, Malaysia

    The 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly is the current term of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, the legislative branch of the Government of Sabah in Sabah, Malaysia. The 16th Assembly consists of 79 members that 73 members were elected in the 2020 Sabah election and 6 members were nominated by the Government and is serving from 26 October 2020 until the next state election.

    Roland Chia Ming Shen is a Malaysian politician from BERSATU. He was the Member of Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Inanam from 2013 to 2018.

    Awang Ahmad Sah bin Awang Sahari is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Petagas since September 2020. He is a member of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN), a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition and was a member of the Heritage Party (WARISAN) and Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR). He was the Treasurer and Division Chief of Putatan of WARISAN and Deputy Chairman of STAR. He is also brother of Vice President of the People's Justice Party (PKR) and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Putatan Awang Husaini Sahari.

    Events in the year 2023 in Malaysia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">United Malays National Organisation of Sabah</span> Sabah branch of a political party of Malaysia

    United Malays National Organisation of Sabah, also abbreviated as Sabah UMNO, is a branch of a political party in Sabah, Malaysia. Sabah UMNO supported and was part of the federal government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Sabah UMNO also had one elected representatives holding a deputy ministerial positions respectively in the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Sabah political crisis</span> Political crisis in Sabah, Malaysia

    The 2023 Sabah political crisis or widely reported on local media as Langkah Kinabalu or the Kinabalu Move, began on 6 January 2023, when the state government of Sabah led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) collapsed when its coalition party Barisan Nasional (BN) withdrew its support. The Leader of UMNO Sabah, a component party of BN, Bung Moktar Radin, Kinabatangan Member of Parliament (MP) and Lamag Assemblyman, cited a lack of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor in the withdrawal. UMNO Sabah want to change support from supporting GRS coalition to supporting the WARISAN Plus coalition. On 9 January, both Malaysian leaders, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi travelled to Kota Kinabalu to meet with Sabah political leaders. This crisis resulted in the approval of the Anti-Switching Parties Law in Sabah (approved in 25 May 2023).

    In Malaysian politics, a frog refers to an act where a politician crosses the bench from one party to another (changing support). This term was first coined in during the 1994 Sabah state elections after United Sabah Party losing its majority even the party won the state elections. Despite its usage nationwide, it is more familiar within the state of Sabah. Since May 25, 2023, nine (9) states of Malaysia has approved the Parties hopping prevention law also known as the "Anti-Switching Parties Law" or "Anti-Hopping Parties Law" for both Parliament and State legislative assembly including Sabah and Sarawak.

    References

    1. Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sabah (PDF). Retrieved 26 May 2016. Standing Orders 89, 90 and 91.
    2. Kamalul Arifin, Syah Hairizal (8 October 2020). "Pentadbiran Hajiji lengkap hari ini". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved 8 October 2020.
    3. "Senarai Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri".
    4. (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah.
    5. "Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sabah (PDF)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2016.