Sabah State Legislative Assembly

Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah
14th Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Type
Type
History
Founded 25 September 1963
Leadership
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Juhar Mahiruddin
Since 1 January 2011
Speaker
Syed Abas Syed Ali, BN–UMNO
Since 7 August 2015
Deputy Speaker
Johnny Mositun, BN–PBS
since 29 April 2008
Johnson Tee, BN–PBRS
since 21 May 2013
Chief Minister
Musa Aman, BN–UMNO
Since 27 March 2003
Leader of the Opposition
Lajim Ukin, Independent
Since 19 June 2013
Structure
Seats 60
Quorum: 20
Simple majority: 31
Two-thirds majority: 40
Political groups

(As of 27 June 2016)
Government
     Barisan Nasional (48)

Ministers: 11
Assistant ministers: 18
Backbenchers: 18

Opposition
     Pakatan Harapan (8)

  •      PKR (5)
  •      DAP (3)

     STAR (1)
     Independent (3)

     Vacant (0)
Committees

[1]

Elections
Plurality: First-past-the-post (60 single-member constituencies)
Last election
 5 May 2013
Next election
 on or before 13 September 2018
Meeting place
Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building, Likas, Kota Kinabalu
Website
www.sabah.gov.my/dun/

The Sabah State Legislative Assembly (Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah) is a part of the Legislature of Sabah, Malaysia, the other being the Governor of Sabah. The Assembly meets at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building at Likas in the state capital of Kota Kinabalu.

This unicameral legislature is currently having 60 seats representing state constituencies elected through a first-past-the-post electoral system across the state.

Like at the federal level in Malaysia, Sabah uses a Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which members are elected to the Legislative Assembly through general elections, from which the Chief Minister and the Cabinet are appointed based on majority support. The Chief Minister is head of government, while the Governor acts as head of state. The largest party not forming the government is known as the Official Opposition, its leader being recognized as Leader of the Opposition by the Speaker.

Members of the Assembly refer to themselves as "Members of the Legislative Assembly" (MLAs) and sometimes as "state assemblymen".

The current Assembly was elected on 5 May 2013 as part of the 14th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. Barisan Nasional retained the majority while Pakatan Rakyat and State Reform Party became the Opposition and the third party respectively. The first session of the 14th Sabah State Legislative Assembly opened on 17 June 2013.

Lawmaking

In accordance with the traditions of the Westminster system, most laws originate with the cabinet (Government bills), and are passed by the legislature after stages of debate and decision-making. Ordinary members may introduce privately (Private Members' Bills), play an integral role in scrutinising bills in debate and committee and amending bills presented to the legislature by cabinet.

Current composition

Election of the present Assembly occurred 5 May 2013 as a result of which Barisan Nasional formed a majority government.

Affiliation Party Leader Status Seats
2013 election Current
     Barisan Nasional Musa Aman Government 48 48
     Pakatan Harapan[2] Lajim Ukin Official Opposition 11 5
     State Reform Party Jeffrey Kitingan Third party 1 1
     Independent No leader Non-aligned 0 6
Total 60
Government majority 37 41

On 2 October 2016, two PKR and one DAP assemblyman resigned from their parties, including the Leader of the Opposition, Lajim Ukin.[3]

Officeholders

Chair occupants

According to the Constitution of the State of Sabah, Chair occupants of the Assembly are appointed by the Governor on the Chief Minister's advice. They are:

Majority

Majority leader is always the Chief Minister, who also leads the Cabinet. He is appointed by the Governor on a basis that he is able to command a majority in the Assembly. Since the last election, Musa Aman (BN-UMNO) is the majority leader, the position he held since becoming the Chief Minister on 27 March 2003.

Minority

Minority leader is always the Leader of the Opposition appointed by the largest party not forming the government. Since 19 June 2013, the Leader of the Opposition is Lajim Ukin (PH-PKR).

References

  1. ↑ Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sabah (PDF). Retrieved 26 May 2016. Standing Orders 89, 90 and 91.
  2. ↑ Previously it was Pakatan Rakyat.
  3. ↑ "Three reps quit PKR, DAP for local Sabah party Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/357641#ixzz4LwfbKeE0". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 2 October 2016. External link in |title= (help)
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