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 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 22 August 2019,[4] Sarawak Government comprises the following ministries, which subsequently divided to following agencies:

Ministry	State agencies
Chief Minister's Department	State departments: Governor's Office Chief Minister's Office State Legislative Assembly (Website) State Secretary's Office State Attorney-General's Chambers State Financial Secretary's Office State Public Service Commission (PSC) Deputy State Secretary's Office (Socioeconomic Transformation) Deputy State Secretary's Office (Rural Transformation) Deputy State Secretary's Office (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation) Betong Resident Office Betong District Office Kabong District Office Pusa District Office Saratok District Office Bintulu Resident Office Bintulu District Office Sebauh District Office Tatau District Office General Administration Unit Internal Audit Unit Kapit Resident Office Belaga District Office Bukit Mabong District Office Kapit District Office Song District Office Kuching Resident Office Bau District Office Kuching District Office Lundu District Office Limbang Resident Office Lawas District Office Limbang District Office Miri Resident Office Beluru District Office Marudi District Office Miri District Office Subis District Office Telang Usan District Office Mukah Resident Office Dalat District Office Daro District Office Matu District Office Mukah District Office Tanjung Manis District Office Native Courts Samarahan Resident Office Asajaya District Office Samarahan District Office Simunjan District Office Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) Sarawak Syariah Judiciary Department Sarawak State Mufti's Department Sarawak State Treasury Department Sarikei Resident Office Julau District Office Meradong District Office Pakan District Office Sarikei District Office Serian Resident Office Serian District Office Tebedu District Office Sibu Resident Office Kanowit District Office Selangau District Office Sibu District Office Sri Aman Resident Office Lubok Antu District Office Sri Aman District Office State Human Resources Unit State Implementation Monitoring Unit State Planning Unit State Protocol and Public Relations Unit Sarawak Public Communication Unit State Security and Enforcement Unit State Service Modernisation Unit Unit for Other Religions State statutory boards: Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) Council for Customs and Traditions Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) Sarawak Baitulmal Fund (TBS) Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Sarawak Foundation Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) State-owned companies: Leadership Institute Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence Sdn. Bhd. (SCOPE) Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) Sarawak Incorporated Sdn. Bhd. (SISB)
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research	State departments: Planetarium Sultan Iskandar (PSI) State statutory bodies: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) State-owned companies: CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd.
Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development	State departments: Public Works Department (JKR) State statutory boards: Brooke Dockyard and Engineering Works Corporation Kuching Port Authority (KPA) Miri Port Authority Rajang Port Authority Samalaju Port Authority Tanjung Manis Port Authority (TMPA)
Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneurship Development	State-owned companies: Sarawak Gas Distribution Sdn. Bhd.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing	State departments: Sewerage Services Department (SSD) State statutory bodies: Bau District Council Betong District Council Dalat and Mukah District Council Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Kanowit District Council Kapit District Council Kota Samarahan Municipal Council Lawas District Council Limbang District Council Lubok Antu District Council Lundu District Council Matu and Daro District Council Marudi District Council Meradong and Julau District Council Miri City Council Padawan Municipal Council Rural Sibu District Council Saratok District Council Sarikei District Council Serian District Council Sibu Municipal Council Simunjan District Council Sri Aman District Council Subis District Council
Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development	State departments: Department of Agriculture (DOA) Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) State statutory bodies: Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) State Farmers' Organisation (PPN)
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture	State departments: Museum Department State statutory bodies: Sarawak Arts Council Sarawak Craft Council Sarawak State Library (SSL) Sarawak Tourism Board (STB)
Ministry of Transport	State statutory bodies: Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB)
Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources	State departments: Forestry Department Land and Survey Department State statutory bodies: Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation
Ministry of Utilities	State departments: Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) State statutory boards: Kuching Water Board (KWB) Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) Sibu Water Board (SWB) State-owned companies: LAKU Management Sdn. Bhd. Sarawak Energy Bhd. Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd.
Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development	State departments: Women and Family Department (JWKS) Social Welfare Department (JKM) State-owned companies: Centre of Technical Excellence (PLPB)
Ministry of Youth and Sports	State statutory bodies: Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC)

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

1. 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.
2. Both courts are under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister.
3. Federal Constitution, Ninth Schedule, List IIA, Item 13.
4. "Anggota Kabinet Negeri Sarawak (2019)". Utusan Borneo (Sarawak) (in Malay). 22 August 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.