Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak
18th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Type
Type
History
Founded 8 September 1867
Leadership
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Abdul Taib Mahmud
Since 1 March 2014
Speaker
Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, BN–PBB
Since 15 November 2000
Deputy Speaker
Gerawat Gala, BN–PBB
Since 19 May 2016
Chief Minister
Adenan Satem, BN–PBB
Since 1 March 2014
Opposition Leader
Chong Chieng Jen, PH–DAP
Since 10 June 2013
Structure
Seats 82
Quorum: 28
Simple majority: 42
Two-thirds majority: 55
Political groups

(As of 8 May 2016)
Government
     Barisan Nasional (72)

Ministers: ?
Assistant ministers: ?
Backbenchers: ?
  •      PBB (39)
  •      PRS (11)
  • Others (11)
  •      SUPP (7)
  •      SPDP (4)

Opposition
     Pakatan Harapan (10)

  •      DAP (7)
  •      PKR (3)
     Vacant (0)
Committees
Elections
Plurality: First-past-the-post (82 single-member constituencies)
Last election
 7 May 2016
Next election
 on or before 2021
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

72 7 3
Barisan Nasional DAP PKR

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 Datuk Dr.Sockalingam 1963 1968
2 Tan Sri Datuk William Tan Ho Choon 1968 1973
3 Tan Sri Shahbuddin Y.K. Cheng 1973 1976
4 Datuk Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha 1976 1981
5 Datuk Celestine Ujang Jilan 1981 1987
6 Datuk Robert Jacob Ridu 1987 1994
7 Dato' Sri Wong Soon Koh 1994 1996
8 Datuk Song Swee Guan 1996 2000
9 Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar 2000 Incumbent

Committees

The State Assembly also consists of committees that handle administrative matters. The committees include:[8]

Sarawak state election, 2016

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. ↑ Jawatankuasa Peraturan-peraturan Mesyuarat dan Pemilihan (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak. Accessed 14 June 2010

See also

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