Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak
17th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	8 September 1867
Leadership
Yang di-Pertuan Negeri	Abdul Taib Mahmud, BN–PBB Since 1 March 2014
Speaker	Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, BN–PBB Since 15 November 2000
Deputy Speaker	Roland Sagah Wee Inn, BN–PBB Since 30 September 2011
Chief Minister	Adenan Satem, BN–PBB Since 1 March 2014
Opposition Leader	Chong Chieng Jen, PH–DAP Since 10 June 2013
Structure
Seats	71 Quorum: 24 Simple majority: 36 Two-thirds majority: 47
Political groups	(As of 22 April 2016) Government      Barisan Nasional (45) Ministers: 7 Assistant ministers: 15 Backbenchers: 23      PBB (35)      PRS (8)      SUPP (2)      TERAS, out of BN coalition (5) Ministers: 1 Assistant ministers: 3 Backbenchers: 1      UPP, out of BN coalition (4) Ministers: 1 Assistant ministers: 1 Backbenchers: 2 Opposition      Pakatan Harapan (14)      DAP (11)      PKR (3)      SWP (1)      Independent (1)      Vacant (1)
Committees	6 Rules of Proceedings and Elections Committee Public Accounts Committee Assembly Committee Public Petitions Committee Privileges Committee DUN Events Committee
Elections
Voting system	Plurality: First-past-the-post (71 single-member constituencies)
Last election	16 April 2011
Next election	7 May 2016
Meeting place
New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building, Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak
Website
www.dun.sarawak.gov.my

The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak) is the state legislature of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is a unicameral institution consisting of 71 members elected from single-member constituencies throughout the state. Elections are held no more than five years apart

The State Legislative Assembly convenes at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building in the state capital, Kuching.

Current composition

45	11	5	4	3	1	1	1
Barisan Nasional	DAP	TERAS	UPP	PKR	S W P	I N D	V a c a n t

History

The first legislative assembly in Sarawak was formed during the rule of the White Rajahs. The General Council (Majlis Umum) of the Kingdom of Sarawak was convened on 8 September 1867 by Charles Brooke, the Rajah Muda under the orders of James Brooke, then the Rajah of Sarawak. Its members were chosen from local tribe leaders who were thought to be capable of assisting Brooke in administering the kingdom. The General Council later evolved into the Council Negri. The Council Negri first met in Bintulu.^[1]

It continued to function even after Sarawak was ceded to the British Empire in 1946. Since 1963, when Sarawak joined with Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo (now known as Sabah) to form the Federation of Malaysia, in line with the federal and state constitutions, members of the Assembly have been elected representatives.^[2]

The Assembly originally had 48 seats. That expanded to 56 in 1985, to 62 in 1985 and to 71 in 2005. In 2014 the Assembly passed a Bill to take the number of constituencies to 82. It has a greater number of seats than any other state assembly in Malaysia.^[3]

Role

The State Assembly enacts laws that apply in the state of Sarawak in matters specified in the Joint and State Lists in the federal Constitution. Legislation successfully passed in the Assembly are known as ordinances.^[4] The Assembly must sit at least once a year to approve taxation to and supply from the state's consolidated fund. This is done during the tabling of the budget by the executive Cabinet.^[5] Aside from administrative matters, members of the Assembly are free to speak on any issues, as stipulated in the Privileges, Immunities and Powers Ordinance 1963. Members of the Assembly are responsible for checking and criticising the executive government's actions.^[6]

The Speaker presides over proceedings in the Assembly. He is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Speaker can only vote to break a tie.^[7]

Speakers Roll of Honour

The following is the Speaker of the Sarawak State Assembly Roll of Honour, since 1963:

No.	Speaker	Term start	Term end
1	Sockalingam	1963	1968
2	William Tan	1968	1973
3	Shahbuddin Y.K. Cheng	1973	1976
4	Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha	1976	1981
5	Celestine Ujang Jilan	1981	1987
6	Robert Jacob Ridu	1987	1994
7	Wong Soon Koh	1994	1996
8	Song Swee Guan	1996	2000
9	Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar	2000	Incumbent

Cabinet

The Cabinet of Sarawak forms the executive branch of the state's government. It is led by the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor on the basis that he is able to command a majority in the Assembly. He then advises the Governor on the appointment of state ministers. The Chief Minister and his ministers constitute the state cabinet, and share collective responsibility to the Assembly.^[8]

After the 2011 state election, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition formed a shadow cabinet. The Speaker recognised the right of the opposition to form such a body, but nonetheless noted it had no constitutional status, unlike the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom.^[9]

The current State Cabinet was sworn in on 18 April 2011 after the state elections.^[10] On 28 September 2001, the State Cabinet underwent a reshuffle, as a new ministry and seven new member were introduced.^[11]

Upon the appointment of Tan Sri Adenan Satem as the fifth Chief Minister of Sarawak, the State Cabinet,formed in 2011 remained unchanged, with the exception of the position of Second Deputy Chief Minister,which still vacant.The position of the Minister with Special Functions also remains vacant, and he had announced that he will appoint a minister to fill the positions at the right time.^[12]

Full members

Sarawak State Cabinet (Effective 3 March 2014)^[13]

Portfolio	Office bearers	Party	Constituency
Chief Minister Minister of Finance Minister of Resource Planning and Environment	Adenan Satem	PBB	Tanjong Datu
Deputy Chief Minister Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Minister of Rural Development	Alfred Jabu Numpang	PBB	Layar
Minister of Land Development	James Jemut Masing	PRS	Baleh
Second Minister of Finance Minister of Local Government and Community Development	Wong Soon Koh	UPP	Bawang Assan
Minister of Social Development	William Mawan Ikom	TERAS	Pakan
Minister of Housing Minister of Tourism	Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg	PBB	Satok
Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications	Michael Manyin	PBB	Tebedu
Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Minister of Public Utilities Minister of Industrial Development	Tengah Ali Hassin	PBB	Bukit Sari
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development	Fatimah Abdullah @ Ting Sai Ming	PBB	Dalat

Assistant ministers

Portfolio	Office bearers	Party	Constituency
Assistant Minister of Land Development Assistant Minister of Tourism (Local Events and Products)	Gramong Juna	PBB	Machan
Assistant Minister of Rural Development Assistant Minister of Housing	Francis Harden Hollis	SUPP	Simanggang
Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications (Communications) Assistant Minister of Social Development (Sports)	Lee Kim Shin	SUPP	Senadin
Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Farmers’ Organisation)	Sylvester Entri Muran	TERAS	Marudi
Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications (Infrastructure Development) Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Islamic Affairs)	Daud Abdul Rahman	PBB	Tupong
Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development)	Mohd Naroden Majais	PBB	Simunjan
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Native Adat and Penan Affairs) Assistant Minister of Local Government and Community Development (Local Government)	John Sikie Tayai	PRS	Kakus
Assistant Minister of Land Development	Abdul Wahab Aziz	PBB	Kalaka
Assistant Minister of Tourism	Talib Zulpilip	PBB	Jepak
Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Industrial Estate Development) Assistant Minister of Local Government and Community Development (Community Services)	Peter Nansian Ngusie	TERAS	Tasik Biru
Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research & Marketing)	Mong Dagang	PRS	Bukit Begunan
Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication)	Stephen Rundi Utom	PBB	Kemena
Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Investment & Promotion) Assistant Minister of Rural Development	Julaihi Narawi	PBB	Sebuyau
Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Assistant Minister of Housing	Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah	PBB	Asajaya
Assistant Minister of Public Health	Jerip Susil	UPP	Bengoh
Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage	Liwan Lagang	PRS	Belaga
Assistant Minister of Early Childhood Education and Family Development	Rosey Yunus	TERAS	Bekenu
Assistant Minister of Welfare	Robert Lawson Chuat	PBB	Bukit Saban
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Assistant Minister of Environment (Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment)	Len Talif Salleh	PBB	Belawai

Ex officio members

Portfolio	Office bearers
State Secretary	Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani
Senior Federal Counsel	Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad
Sarawak Federal Financial Officer	Jabidah Monseri
State Legislative Assembly Secretary	Supian Tarmizi Mohd Tazuddin

Committees

The State Assembly also consists of committees that handle administrative matters. The committees include:^[14]

• Rules of Proceedings and Elections Committee
• Public Accounts Committee
• Assembly Committee
• Public Petitions Committee
• Privileges Committee
• DUN Events Committee

Sarawak state election, 2011

 Summary of the 16 April 2011 Sarawak State Assembly election results

Political Party		Votes	% of vote	Seats	% of seats	+/–
National Front:	BN	372,379	55.36	55	77.46	8[nb 1]
United Traditional Bumiputera Party	PBB	192,785	28.66	35	49.30
Sarawak United Peoples' Party	SUPP	111,781	16.62	6	8.45	6
Sarawak People's Party	PRS	35,120	5.22	8	11.27
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party	SPDP	32,693	4.86	6	8.45	2
People's Pact:	PR	277,329	41.23	15	21.13	8[nb 2]
Democratic Action Party	DAP	134,847	20.05	12	16.90	6
People's Justice Party	PKR	117,100	17.41	3	4.23	2
Sarawak National Party	SNAP	15,663	2.33	0	0.00
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party	PAS	9,719	1.44	0	0.00
Love Malaysia Party	PCM	2,895	0.43	0	0.00	1
Independents	IND	20,064	2.98	1	1.41	1
Overall total		672,667	100.00	71	100.00
Source: Election Commission.[15] The Star (Malaysia).[16] BN had an assemblyman (Larry Sng) who did not belong to any party. Sng did not contest the election and his seat (Pelagus) was won by an independent, counting as one additional loss for BN. Coalition formed after previous election.

Sarawak state election, 2006

 Summary of the 20 May 2006 Sarawak State Assembly election results

Political Party		Votes	% of vote	Seats	% of seats	+/–
National Front:	BN	341,587	61.8	62[nb 1]	88.7	2
United Traditional Bumiputera Party	PBB	160,331	29.0	35	49.3	5
Sarawak United Peoples' Party	SUPP	113,505	20.5	11	15.5	5
Sarawak People's Party	PRS	33,014	6.0	8	12.7	N/A[nb 2]
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party	SPDP	34,737	6.3	8	11.3	N/A[nb 2]
Democratic Action Party	DAP	82,134	14.9	6	8.5	5
Barisan Bersatu Sarawak:		98,807	17.9	2	2.8	N/A[nb 2]
Sarawak National Party	SNAP[nb 3]	51,459	9.3	1	1.4	5
People's Justice Party	PKR	47,348	8.6	1	1.4	1
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party	PAS	1,901	0.3	0	0.0
Independents	IND	18,535	3.4	1	1.4
Overall total		552,350	100	71	100	10
Source: Election Commission.[17] Including two seats won uncontested. Party or coalition established after previous state election. Part of Barisan Nasional in previous election.

References

1. Sejarah Dewan Undangan Negeri 1 (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
2. Sejarah Dewan Undangan Negeri 2 (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
3. "Sarawak state assembly increase number of reps to 82". The Malaysian Insider. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
4. Kuasa Perundangan (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
5. Pengenalan (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
6. Fungsi (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
7. Speaker (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
8. Kerajaan Eksekutif (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
9. Saai, John K (4 May 2011). "Formation of shadow cabinet unconstitutional — DUN Speaker". Borneo Post. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
10. "Sarawk State Cabinet Sworn In". Bernama. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
11. "New ministry, seven new faces in Sarawak cabinet reshuffle latest!". Borneo Post. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
12. "Sarawak cabinet remains unchanged". Borneo Post. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
13. Sarawak Cabinet
14. Jawatankuasa Peraturan-peraturan Mesyuarat dan Pemilihan (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010
15. "Official results". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
16. "Sarawak Decides 2011: Results". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 22 April 2011.
17. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 23 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.

External links

• Sarawak State Legislative Assembly official website