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| State Legislative Assembly of Sarawak | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sarawak State Legislative Assembly |
| Native name | Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Established | 1867 |
| Precedents | Raj of Sarawak Council |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Leader1 | See section |
| Members | 82 |
| Structure1 | Sarawak assembly diagram |
| Meeting place | Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex, Petra Jaya, Kuching |
State Legislative Assembly of Sarawak is the unicameral legislature of the Sarawak state in Malaysia. It traces institutional roots to the era of the White Rajahs and evolved through periods including the Brooke dynasty, the Japanese occupation of British Malaya, and incorporation into the Federation of Malaya. The Assembly sits in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex in Kuching and conducts lawmaking, budgetary, and oversight functions for state matters.
The Assembly's antecedents include the advisory councils under James Brooke, the Charles Brooke era institutions, and the colonial-era British Empire administrative structures in Borneo. Post-World War II developments such as the formation of the British Crown Colony of Sarawak, the Cobbold Commission, and negotiations leading to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 shaped the Assembly's modern form. Important milestones include expansions of franchise during the post-war decolonisation period, constitutional arrangements under the Constitution of Malaysia, and landmark events involving figures like Abang Haji Openg, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, and Tawi Sli during early statehood. The Assembly has been affected by national crises including the May 13 incident, federal-state disputes under leaders such as Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, and constitutional amendments in the Parliament of Malaysia that influenced state legislative autonomy.
Membership comprises elected representatives corresponding to single-member constituencies established by the Election Commission of Malaysia. The current assembly size reflects periodic delimitation exercises connected to the Electoral Boundaries Commission and decisions by successive cabinets including those led by Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Razak. Elections operate under the first-past-the-post system with voting age changes following amendments influenced by movements around the Undi18 campaign and actions by the Parliament of Malaysia. Issues of rural representation incorporate areas such as Kapit District, Miri District, Sibu Division, and Sarikei Division, reflecting demographic and geographic diversity including Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, and Malay communities. Electoral contests typically involve parties like Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples' Party, Democratic Action Party (Malaysia), Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
The Assembly exercises legislative authority over state matters enumerated in the Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia including land, state Islamic affairs as interpreted vis-à-vis institutions such as the Majlis Islam Sarawak, local government structures like the Kuching South City Council, and natural resource regulations affecting entities such as Petronas and state agencies. Fiscal powers include approving state budgets presented by the Premier of Sarawak and reviewing revenue from state resources, forestry concessions, and development projects in areas like Samalaju Industrial Park. The Assembly provides oversight of the state executive led by the Premier of Sarawak (formerly Chief Minister) and confirms appointments to boards of statutory bodies including the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation and Sarawak Energy Berhad. Judicial review interactions involve the Federal Court of Malaysia and the Court of Appeal of Malaysia when constitutional questions arise.
Presiding officers include the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and clerks drawn from parliamentary procedure expertise often informed by precedents in the Dewan Rakyat and practices from the Westminster system. Political leadership features the Premier of Sarawak, ministers forming the Cabinet of Sarawak, and opposition leaders from parties such as Pakatan Harapan coalitions or local coalitions like Gabungan Parti Sarawak. Officers responsible for administration include the Clerk of the Assembly, Serjeant-at-Arms, and committee chairs who coordinate with civil servants in departments like the Sarawak State Public Service Commission.
Procedural rules derive from standing orders modeled on Westminster parliamentary procedure with adaptations for state practice and interactions with federal statutes enacted by the Parliament of Malaysia. Debates, question time, motions, and supply procedures follow established timetables and privileges; confidence motions implicate executive tenure analogous to precedents in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and the Dewan Rakyat. Committee structures include Public Accounts Committee, Select Committees on matters such as Public Works, Land and Forestry, and Local Authorities, with membership reflecting party proportions; these committees examine estimates, auditing reports from the National Audit Department (Malaysia), and implementation of state policies involving agencies like Sarawak Multimedia Authority.
Sarawak's party system features local parties with distinct histories such as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), alongside national parties including Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Democratic Action Party (Malaysia), and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Coalitions such as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) have reshaped alignments following withdrawals from federal coalitions like Barisan Nasional in the post-2018 realignment. Representation reflects ethno-regional dynamics involving Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Malay, Chinese communities and indigenous rights debates tied to entities like the Native Customary Rights claimants and NGOs such as Sarawak Dayak Iban Association.
The Assembly convenes in the purpose-built Sarawak Legislative Assembly Building on the Kuching waterfront near landmarks like the Astana and Fort Margherita. Facilities include the main debating chamber with galleries for public and press, committee rooms, offices for members and party whips, and support services coordinated with the Sarawak State Library and state archives. Security, broadcasting, and translation services enable public access through media outlets including RTM and local newspapers like the The Borneo Post and New Sarawak Tribune.
Category:Sarawak Category:State legislatures of Malaysia