Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah explained

Post:Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah
Insignia:Coat of arms of Sabah.svg
Flag:Flag of Sabah.svg
Incumbent:Juhar Mahiruddin
Incumbentsince:1 January 2011
Status:Head of state
Style:Tuan Yang Terutama (His Excellency)
Residence:Istana Seri Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu[1]
Appointer:Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Termlength:Four years per term, unlimited number of terms and at the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's pleasure
Inaugural:Datu Mustapha Datu Harun
Formation:16 September 1963
Salary:RM 25,116.00 per month

The Governor of Sabah (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) is the ceremonial head of state of the Malaysian state of Sabah. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is styled Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT; "His Excellency"). The current officeholder is Juhar Mahiruddin, who was sworn in on 1 January 2011.

Appointment

The office of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (governor) is established by the Constitution of the State of Sabah. According to Article 1(1) of the Constitution, the office must exist and be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) after consultation with the Chief Minister.[2] Every governor is appointed for a term of four years. However, the king reserves the power to extend his term of appointment.

His Excellency has neither a deputy nor an assistant. However, in event of his inability to govern the state due to illness, absence or any other cause, His Majesty reserves the power to appoint a person to exercise the function of the Governor.

Functions, powers and privileges

Many functions and powers of the King  - at the federal level  - are delegated to the Governor at the state level  - like the other rulers of states. The Governor, however, has no power and function towards the judiciary.

As he is the head of state, he is a member of the Conference of Rulers. He share the same power with the other members of the conference. However, he cannot be appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Article 10 of the State Constitution describes that the Governor has to act according to the State Constitution and makes decisions based on the advice from the State Cabinet. However, he may also act on his own discretion in certain matters.[3]

The Constitution provides the power to the Governor to appoint key officers of the state, i.e. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and his deputies; nominated members of the Assembly; ministers and assistant ministers of state; chairman, his deputy and members of the State Public Service Commission; the State Secretary; and the State Attorney General. All of them are appointed after consultation with the Chief Minister, except in appointing the Chief Minister.[4] The same process occurred during dismissal of an officeholder.

The Constitution also describes powers of the Governor in the State Legislative Assembly. All bills must be assented by the Governor in 30 days after a bill passed. The Governor also has to address the assembly annually.

List of Yang di-Pertua Negeri

The following is the list of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah:[2] [5]

No.Coat of ArmsPortraitYang di-Pertua Negeri
Term of office
Took office Left officeTime in Office
1
Datu MustaphaDatu Harun
2
Pengiran Ahmad RaffaePengiran Omar
3
Muhammad FuadStephens
4
Mohd HamdanAbdullah
5
Ahmad Koroh
6
Mohamad Adnan Robert
7
Mohammad Said Keruak
8
Sakaran Dandai
9
Ahmadshah Abdullah
10
Juhar Mahiruddin
Incumbent

Living former Yang di-Pertua Negeri

Only one former Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah is alive at the moment. The most recent death of a former Yang di-Pertua Negeri was that of Sakaran Dandai (1995–2002). He died in Kota Kinabalu on 30 August 2021.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Istana Negeri.
  2. Web site: Yang di-Pertua Negeri . Sabah Government . 2016-06-17.
  3. Web site: Constitution of the State of Sabah: Part 1. Attorney-General's Chamber of the State of Sabah. 1 October 2013.
  4. Previously, the Chief Minister is appointed after consultation with the Federal Prime Minister.
  5. Web site: Mantan Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah . Sabah Government . 13 April 2011.

External links