Premier of Sarawak

Head of government in Sarawak, Malaysia

Premier of Sarawak

Premier Sarawak

Coat of arms of Sarawak

Flag of Sarawak

Incumbent
Abang Johari

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| Satria Pertiwi Complex (Kompleks Satria Pertiwi), 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; 62 years ago (1963-07-22) (as Chief Minister)
1 March 2022; 3 years ago (2022-03-01) (as Premier)
Deputy| Deputy Premier of Sarawak
Website| premier.sarawak.gov.my

The premier of Sarawak (Malay: Premier Sarawak), formerly known as the chief minister of Sarawak (Malay: Ketua Menteri Sarawak), is the head of government and the highest executive authority of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The premier leads the Government of Sarawak, which forms the executive branch of the state administration. Appointment to the position is made by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the constitutional governor of Sarawak. The office is conventionally given to the leader of the political party or coalition that commands a majority in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.[1][2]

Following a constitutional amendment passed on 15 February 2022, the title of chief minister was formally changed to premier to reflect Sarawak's status as an equal partner within the Federation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. The amendment was gazetted and came into force on 1 March 2022.[3] Abang Johari, sworn in as the sixth and final chief minister on 13 January 2017,[4] became the inaugural premier upon the amendment's commencement.[5]

In the Malaysian federal order of precedence, the premier of Sarawak ranks fourth, immediately after the prime minister and the two deputy prime ministers.[a]

## History

[edit]

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.[7]

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).[8] 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.[8] Along with Britain, Singapore, the Federation of Malaya, and Sabah, Sarawak was one of the signatories of MA63 during the formation of Malaysia.[8]

On 15 February, the position of Chief Minister was changed to Premier following a successful amendment to the Sarawak state constitution.[9] 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.[10]

## Appointment

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

The appointment of an acting Premier (Pemangku Premier Sarawak) will only be implemented if a Premier is confirmed to be ill for a long period of time, or died while serving in the government administration. 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. There is no obstacle for any local leaders from various races, to hold the position as acting Premier of Sarawak.

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

[edit]

### Chief Ministers of Sarawak (1963–2022)

[edit]

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

No.  | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency | Term of office  | Party[b] | Election  | Assembly

|
|
|
|
|
|

Took office | Left office | Time in office
1  |  | Tan Sri Datuk Amar
Stephen Kalong Ningkan
MLA for Layar
(1920–1997) | 22 July
1963  | 23 September
1966  | 3 years, 63 days  |  | Alliance
(SNAP)  | 1963 | –
2  |  | Dato' Sri Penghulu
Tawi Sli
MLA for Lingga-Sebuyau
(1912–1987) | 23 September
1966  | 7 July
1970  | 3 years, 287 days  |  | PESAKA | –  | –
3  |  | Tun 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  |  | Tun 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
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)

[edit]

Colour key (for political coalitions):
Gabungan Parti Sarawak

No.  | Portrait  | Name
Constituency
(Birth–Death) | Term of office  | Party[c] | 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  | 3 years, 170 days  |  | GPS (PBB)  | –  | 19th

1. ^ This order of precedence is used in official national ceremonies and determines the order of protocol between high-ranking government officials.[6]
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ 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

[edit]

Chief ministers are usually granted certain privileges after leaving office at government expense. 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.

While in the past, former chief ministers remained important state figures, there are currently no living former chief ministers. The most recently deceased was Abdul Taib Mahmud (1936–2024), who died on 21 February 2024.

## See also

[edit]

* Constitution of the State of Sarawak

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Federal Constitution (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ "Biography of the Chief Minister". Official Website Office of the Chief Minister. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
5. ^ "Abang Jo sworn in as Sarawak's 6th Chief Minister". The Star. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
6. ^ "SENARAI KEUTAMAAN PERSEKUTUAN: Warta Kerajaan Persekutuan 13 November 2014 P.U (B) 506" (PDF). Prime Minister's Department: Ceremonial and International Conference Secretariat Division (in Malay). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
7. ^ "Revisiting 48 years of leadership". The Borneo Post. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
8. ^ a b c "Abdul Karim: 'Premier' instead of CM because Sarawak's different from other states in Malaysia". 15 February 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
9. ^ "Chief Minister's post officially renamed to Premier after vote passes in Sarawak DUN". 15 February 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
10. ^ "Sarawak CM known as Premier from Tuesday (March 1)". 1 March 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

* v
* t
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State of Sarawak

Capital: Kuching

History|

* Santubong Kingdom (500 AD)
* Malano Kingdom (700 AD–1400 AD)
* Bruneian Empire (1368–1888)
* Sultanate of Sarawak (1599–1641)
* Raj of Sarawak (1841–1946)
* Empire of Japan (1941–1945)
* Crown Colony of Sarawak (1946–1963)
* Sarawak (1963–present)

Topics|

* Index
* History
* Constitution
* Elections
* Government
* Executive
* Governor
* Premier
* Legislature
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Society|

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Administrative
divisions|

| Divisions|

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|

Districts|

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Municipalities|

* Padawan

Cities|

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Towns|

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* Commons
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Menteris Besar, chief ministers and premiers of the states of Malaysia

Menteris Besar|

* Johor: Onn Hafiz Ghazi (BN-UMNO)
* Kedah: Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (PN-PAS)
* Kelantan: Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (PN-PAS)
* Negeri Sembilan: Aminuddin Harun (PH-PKR)
* Pahang: Wan Rosdy (BN-UMNO)
* Perak: Saarani Mohamad (BN-UMNO)
* Perlis: Mohd Shukri Ramli (PN-PAS)
* Selangor: Amirudin Shari (PH-PKR)
* Terengganu: Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PN-PAS)

Chief ministers|

* Malacca: Ab Rauf Yusoh (BN-UMNO)
* Penang: Chow Kon Yeow (PH-DAP)
* Sabah: Hajiji Noor (GRS-GAGASAN)

Premiers|

* Sarawak: Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg (GPS-PBB)

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