Sabah State Legislative Assembly

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.

Chair occupants of the assembly are appointed by the governor on the chief minister's advice. Kadzim M. Yahya (BN-UMNO) has been the speaker since 8 October 2020.{{Cite news|last=Kamalul Arifin|first=Syah Hairizal|date=2020-10-08|title=Pentadbiran Hajiji lengkap hari ini|language=ms|work=Astro Awani|url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/pentadbiran-hajiji-lengkap-hari-ini-262647|access-date=2020-10-08}} He is assisted by two Deputy Speakers, Al Hambra Juhar (Independent) and Richard Yong We Kong (SAPP) who were both appointed on 19 June 2023.

The majority leader is always the chief minister, who also leads the Cabinet. He is appointed by the Governor on the basis that he is able to command a majority in the assembly. Hajiji Noor (GAGASAN-GRS), MLA for Sulaman, has been the chief minister since 29 September 2020.

The minority leader is always the leader of the opposition appointed by the largest party not forming the government. Following the defeat of Warisan Plus coalition in the recent state election, Mohd. Shafie Apdal (WARISAN), MLA for Senallang, becomes leader of the Opposition.

The Governor, on the advice of the Chief Minister, appoints one person from the membership of the Assembly or, in deviation from traditional Westminster practices, from non-members who are qualified to be elected as members of the Assembly, as the presiding officer of the Assembly, known as the Speaker, and another person from the membership of the Assembly to be Deputy Speaker. The lengths of their service are specified by the letters patent that appointed them; however, their term may end premature if they no longer qualify for the membership of the Assembly, they resign, or the Governor terminates their speakership on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Speaker is also disqualified from the chair if they have any personal interest in another organisation; the Deputy Speaker does not need to vacate their office if they have such interests, but is barred from presiding over any matter that affects their interests.

The Speaker or Deputy Speaker presides from a chair at the front of the chamber (opposite the entrance). A member who believes that a rule (or Standing Order) has been breached may raise a {{em|point of order}}, on which the Speaker makes a ruling that is not subject to any appeal. The Speaker may discipline members who fail to observe the rules of the Assembly. The Speaker or Deputy Speaker remain members of their respective parties while holding the speakership, but they are required by convention to act impartially while presiding over the Assembly. A Speaker or Deputy Speaker who is also an elected member of the Assembly retain voting rights, but by convention does not vote in proceedings they preside over except to break a tie, only doing so according to Speaker Denison's rule.

The following are the Speakers of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly since 1963:{{Cite web|url=https://dun.sabah.gov.my/ms/speaker/senarai-speaker-dewan-undangan-negeri|title = Senarai Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri}}

The Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Legislative Assembly are civil servants that serve as the chief advisers of procedural matters, as well as head the day-to-day administration of the Assembly. They serve a similar role to the Clerk of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, advising the Speaker on the rules and procedure of the Assembly, signing orders and official communications, and signing and endorsing bills. They are permanent officials and not members of the Assembly. The Governor has the sole power to appoint or remove them.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The {{em|Serjeant-at-Arms}} maintains the law, order and security of the Assembly, within the chamber and on the premises of the Assembly building. The Serjeant-at-Arms also carries the ceremonial mace, a symbol of the authority of the Governor and of the Legislative Assembly, into the chamber each day in front of the Speaker, and the mace is laid upon the Table of the Assembly during sittings.

The Legislative Assembly uses committees for a variety of purposes, e.g. for the review of bills. Committees consider bills in detail, and may make amendments. Bills of great constitutional importance, as well as some important financial measures, are usually committed to the {{em|Committee of the Whole House}}, a body that includes all members of the Assembly. This committee sits in the main chamber itself.

Committees can also be created for any purpose – these are known as Select Committees. However, the Select Committees of the Assembly primarily handle administrative matters of the chamber. For example, the Selection and Standing Orders Committee meet to select members of other committees as well as consider changes to the Standing Orders; the Public Petitions Committee handles petitions of any matter from the public; and the Privileges Committee considers questions of parliamentary privilege, as well as matters relating to the conduct of the members.[http://www.lawnet.sabah.gov.my/lawnet/SubsidiaryLegislation/ConstitutionOfSabah(StandingOrdersOfTheLegislativeAssembly-SittingOfTheASsembly).pdf] (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah. Committees need to be re-established at the beginning of each term.{{Cite web |title=Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sabah (PDF). |url=http://www.lawnet.sabah.gov.my/lawnet/SubsidiaryLegislation/ConstitutionOfSabah(StandingOrdersOfTheLegislativeAssembly-SittingOfTheASsembly).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603162859/http://www.lawnet.sabah.gov.my/lawnet/SubsidiaryLegislation/ConstitutionOfSabah(StandingOrdersOfTheLegislativeAssembly-SittingOfTheASsembly).pdf |archive-date=3 June 2016 }}

File:16th DUN Sabah by party.svg

{{For|details of the current term of the Assembly|16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly}}

{{Incomplete list|date=December 2019}}

• Cabinet of Sabah

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• [http://www.sabah.gov.my/dun/ Sabah State Legislative Assembly official website]

{{Legislatures of Malaysia}}

{{Sabah}}

{{Malaysia Current MLA}}

Category:Politics of Sabah

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Category:Unicameral legislatures