Government of Sarawak
The Sarawak Government is an authority governing Sarawak, one of 13 states of Malaysia, based in Kuching, the state capital. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, and the Constitution of the State of Sarawak, the supreme law of the State.
| Sarawak Government | |
|---|---|
| Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak | |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Established | 22 July 1963 |
| State | Sarawak |
| Leader | Chief Minister |
| Appointed by | Yang di-Pertua Negeri |
| Main organ | Cabinet of Sarawak |
| Ministries | 11 ministries |
| Responsible to | Legislative Assembly |
| Annual budget | RM 8.226 billion (2018)[1] |
| Headquarters | Wisma Bapa Malaysia Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia |
| Website | Official website |
The state government has only two branches: executive and legislative. Sarawak has no judiciary branch due to the federalisation of court system in Malaysia. Although Sarawak has jurisdictions towards Sharia and Native Courts (and their respective laws),[2][3] both courts are still considered a part of the state executive branch.
Legislative
The state legislature consists of only a unicameral house called the State Legislative Assembly. All 82 members of the Assembly are elected from single-member districts by universal adult suffrage. The Assembly follows a multi-party system and the governing body is elected through a first-past-the-post system. The State, however, may appoint up to 6 nominated members of the Assembly based on conditions provided by the State Constitution.
The Assembly has a maximum mandate of five years by law. The Governor may dissolve the state legislature at any time and usually does so upon the advice of the Chief Minister.
Executive
Cabinet
Executive power is vested in the Cabinet led by the Chief Minister. The State Constitution stipulates that the Chief Minister must be a member of the State Legislative Assembly who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, commands a majority in the State Legislative Assembly. The Cabinet is chosen among members of the State Legislative Assembly and is responsible to that body. The executive branch of the government consists of the Chief Minister as the head of the government, followed by the various ministers of the Cabinet.
State departments, agencies and companies
Since 6 May 2017, Sarawak Government comprises the following ministries, which subsequently divided to departments, agencies (ticked with *) and state-owned companies (ticked with **):
Chief Minister's Department
- Chief Minister's Office[4]
- State Secretary's Office[5]
- Deputy State Secretary's Office (Socioeconomic Transformation)
- Deputy State Secretary's Office (Rural Transformation)
- Deputy State Secretary's Office (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation)
- Council for Customs and Traditions[6]
- Sarawak Islamic Council[7]
- State Human Resources Unit
- General Administration Unit
- State Planning Unit
- State Protocol and Public Relations Unit
- State Implementation Monitoring Unit
- Internal Audit Unit
- State Security and Enforcement Unit
- State Service Modernisation Unit
- Unit for Other Religions
- Sarawak Public Communication Unit
- Department of Islamic Affairs[8]
- Syariah Judiciary Department[9]
- State Attorney-General's Chambers[10]
- Sarawak State Treasury[11]
- Native Court
- Department of Mufti[12]
- State Financial Secretary's Office[13]
- Resident Offices (Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Kapit, Miri, Limbang)
- Kuching North City Hall*[14]
- Kuching South City Council*[15]
- Bintulu Development Authority*[16]
- Sarawak Economic Development Corporation*[17]
- Regional Corridor Development Authority*[18]
- Leadership Institute**[19]
- Sarawak Incorporated Sdn. Bhd.**[20]
Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Veterinary Services
- Sarawak Land Development Board*
- Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority*
- Land Custody and Development Authority*
- State Farmers' Organisation
Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resource
- Forest Department
- Land and Survey Department
- Natural Resources and Environment Board*
- Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation*
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre*
- Sarawak Forestry Corporation*
Ministry of International Trade and e-Commerce
No department, agency or state-owned companies
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research
- Sarawak Information Technology Resources Council*
- Sarawak State Library*
- Sarawak Foundation*
- CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd.**
- Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd.**
Ministry of Local Government and Housing
- Department of Irrigation and Drainage
- Sewerage Services Department
- Miri City Council*
- Municipal Councils* (Kota Samarahan, Padawan and Sibu)
- District Councils*
- Housing Development Corporation*
Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak
- Museum Department
- Sarawak Tourism Board*
- Sarawak Sports Corporation*
Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation
- Public Works Department
- Brooke Dockyard and Engineering Works Corporation**
- Kuching Port Authority*
- Miri Port Authority*
- Rajang Port Authority*
- Sarawak Rivers Board*
- Tanjung Manis Port Authority*
Ministry of Utilities
- Rural Water Supply Department
- Kuching Water Board*
- Sibu Water Board*
- LAKU Management Sdn. Bhd.**
- Sarawak Energy Bhd.**
Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Development
No department, agency or state-owned companies
Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development
- Women and Family Department
- Social Welfare Department
- Centre of Technical Excellence**
Non-ministerial bodies
- State Legislative Assembly
- State Palace
- State Public Service Commission
Head of government
The Chief Minister of Sarawak (Malay: Ketua Menteri Sarawak) is the indirectly elected head of government of Sarawak. He is officially appointed by the Governor, who in His Excellency's judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of State Legislative Assembly. He heads the State Cabinet, whose members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister and his Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to State Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister's Department is the body and ministry in which the Chief Minister exercises its functions and powers.
References
- Rosly, Md Azrin. "70 peratus daripada peruntukan RM8.226 bilion Bajet 2018 Sarawak untuk pembangunan - Abang Johari". Utusan Online (in Malay). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- Both courts are under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister.
- Federal Constitution, Ninth Schedule, List IIA, Item 13.
- http://www.cm.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.ss.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.nativecustoms.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.mis.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.jais.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.syariah.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://sag.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.treasury.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.muftinegeri.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.sfs.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.dbku.sarawak.gov.my/
- http://www.mbks.gov.my/modules/web/index.php
- "Official Website of Bintulu Development Authority". www.bda.gov.my.
- http://www.sedc.com.my/
- http://www.recoda.com.my/
- "Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service". Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service.
- "Welcome to SISB Website". www.sarawakinc.com.my.