Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak
18th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Insignia of Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	8 September 1867
Leadership
Yang di-Pertua Negeri	Abdul Taib Mahmud Since 1 March 2014
Speaker	Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, GPS-PBB Since 15 November 2000
Deputy Speaker	Gerawat Gala, GPS-PBB Since 19 May 2016
Government Leader	Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg[1], GPS-PBB Since 13 January 2017
Opposition Leader	Chong Chieng Jen, PH–DAP Since 10 June 2013
Secretary	Semawi Mohamad, Independent
Structure
Seats	82 Quorum: 28 Simple majority: 42 Two-thirds majority: 55
Political groups	(As of 12 June 2018) Government      Gabungan Parti Sarawak (67)      PBB (46)      PRS (11)      SUPP (7)      PDP (3) Confidence and supply      UPP (5) Opposition      Pakatan Harapan (10)      DAP (7)      PKR (3)
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 (82 single-member constituencies)
Last election	7 May 2016
Next election	7 September 2021 or earlier
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 82 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. At 82 seats, it is the largest state legislature in Malaysia.

Current composition

Following the state election that was held on 7 May 2016, Barisan Nasional was able to form the next state government with a majority of 72 seats out of 82.^[2] There were several candidates from breakaway parties such as TERAS and UPP that had their members contest seats under the Barisan banner as direct election candidates under a deal by Adenan Satem after their parties were prevented from joining Barisan after opposition from parties such as PDP and SUPP.^[3] On 12 June 2018, all Sarawak-based BN parties including Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) officially left Barisan Nasional forming a new coalition Sarawak Parties Alliance due to Barisan Nasional's defeat in general elections on 9 May 2018.^[4]

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 in 1903. The Council Negri first met in Bintulu.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[12] 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15]

Speakers Roll of Honour

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

Committees

The State Assembly also consists of committees that handle administrative matters. The committees include:^[16]

• Selection and Standing Order Committee
• Public Accounts Committee
• House Committee
• Public Petitions Committee
• Privileges Committee
• Events Committee

Sarawak state election, 2016

See also

• Cabinet of Sarawak

Notes

References

External links

• Sarawak State Legislative Assembly official website