List of Chief Ministers of Sabah
Encyclopedia
The Chief Minister of Sabah is the head of government
for the Malaysian state of Sabah
. , the post is held by Musa Aman
from the Barisan Nasional
coalition. As in other parts of the Malaysian federation
, the Westminster
Parliamentary system
is adopted, whereby, the leader of the party
with the most seats in the state legislature
would usually become the chief minister of Sabah. In other words, it is the person commanding the support of the state legislature. The chief minister is appointed by the head of state
known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri
. In comparison to other states in Malaysia, the office of the Chief Minister of Sabah has been held by a more diverse group of people in terms of ethnicity and religion. The post has been held by Kadazandusuns, Bajaus, Malays, Chinese, Suluks, and other persons of mixed heritage as well as being Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.
as a means to divide and share power among the three main communities of the state—the Christian
Bumiputra
s, the Muslim
Bumiputras, and the Chinese
people—represented by various political parties within the Barisan National coalition supposedly representing the interests of those communities. The system was introduced by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia
Mahathir Mohamad when the ruling coalition party, Barisan Nasional, formed government despite losing in the 1994 state elections
. This occurred due to defections which took place by elected representatives of Parti Bersatu Sabah
(PBS), the party which won the election. Among the defectors were Bernard Dompok, who later became the chief minister himself and Joseph Kurup
.
The system provided that the chief ministerial post will be held by a leader from one of the three communities for two years, and then the post will be passed on to another leader representing another community. The first chief minister under this system was Sakaran Dandai from the party United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO) in 1994. Sakaran did not complete his two-year tenure and was replaced by Salleh Mohd Said, also from UMNO. In 1996, Yong Teck Lee
from Sabah Progressive Party
(SAPP) became next chief minister. Bernard Dompok then became the next chief minister representing the Christian Bumiputra community in 1998. His tenure lasted less than two years when Osu Sukam
from UMNO replaced him in 1999. In 2001, Chong Kah Kiat
from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) replaced Osu. Later in 2003, Musa Aman
from UMNO took up the post and remains the current chief minister of Sabah as of August 2009. The rotation system was abolished in 2005 following BN's landslide victory in Sabah in the 2004 Malaysian general election
.
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
for the Malaysian state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
. , the post is held by Musa Aman
Musa Aman
Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman , is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He took over the post from Chong Kah Kiat on March 27, 2003...
from the Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
coalition. As in other parts of the Malaysian federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
, the Westminster
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
Parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
is adopted, whereby, the leader of the party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with the most seats in the state legislature
Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is the state legislature of the Malaysian state of Sabah. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 60 lawmakers including one speaker....
would usually become the chief minister of Sabah. In other words, it is the person commanding the support of the state legislature. The chief minister is appointed by the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
known as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...
. In comparison to other states in Malaysia, the office of the Chief Minister of Sabah has been held by a more diverse group of people in terms of ethnicity and religion. The post has been held by Kadazandusuns, Bajaus, Malays, Chinese, Suluks, and other persons of mixed heritage as well as being Muslims, Buddhists and Christians.
Rotation system: 1994–2005
The rotation system was used in the state of SabahSabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
as a means to divide and share power among the three main communities of the state—the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Bumiputra
Bumiputra
Bumiputera or Bumiputra is a Malay term widely used in Malaysia, embracing indigenous people of the Malay Archipelago. The term comes from the Sanskrit word bhumiputra, which can be translated literally as "son of land"...
s, the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Bumiputras, and the Chinese
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
people—represented by various political parties within the Barisan National coalition supposedly representing the interests of those communities. The system was introduced by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Mahathir Mohamad when the ruling coalition party, Barisan Nasional, formed government despite losing in the 1994 state elections
Sabah state election, 1994
The 1994 Sabah state election was held in February that year in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The election was one of the most controversial election in Sabah's political history. The election was won by the opposition party Parti Bersatu Sabah , winning 25 state electorates against 23 won by the...
. This occurred due to defections which took place by elected representatives of Parti Bersatu Sabah
Parti Bersatu Sabah
The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985...
(PBS), the party which won the election. Among the defectors were Bernard Dompok, who later became the chief minister himself and Joseph Kurup
Joseph Kurup
Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup is a Malaysian politician. He is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia for the Pensiangan constituency in Sabah, representing the United Sabah People's Party...
.
The system provided that the chief ministerial post will be held by a leader from one of the three communities for two years, and then the post will be passed on to another leader representing another community. The first chief minister under this system was Sakaran Dandai from the party United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO) in 1994. Sakaran did not complete his two-year tenure and was replaced by Salleh Mohd Said, also from UMNO. In 1996, Yong Teck Lee
Yong Teck Lee
Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is a Malaysian politician of Hakka Chinese descent. He is a former Chief Minister of Sabah and is currently the president of the Sabah Progressive Party .-Political History:...
from Sabah Progressive Party
Sabah Progressive Party
The Sabah Progressive Party is a political party based in Sabah, East Malaysia. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee from Parti Bersatu Sabah . Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, SAPP officially...
(SAPP) became next chief minister. Bernard Dompok then became the next chief minister representing the Christian Bumiputra community in 1998. His tenure lasted less than two years when Osu Sukam
Osu Sukam
Datuk Seri Osu bin Haji Sukam, is a former Chief Minister of the Malaysianstate of Sabah. He became the 12th Chief Minister of the state in 1999 and took over the post from Bernard Dompok. Following the rotation system in place at that time, Osu, an ethnic Bajau, held the post for two years...
from UMNO replaced him in 1999. In 2001, Chong Kah Kiat
Chong Kah Kiat
Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat was the 13th Chief Minister of Sabah, Malaysia. He is also the former president of the Liberal Democratic Party .-History in politics:...
from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) replaced Osu. Later in 2003, Musa Aman
Musa Aman
Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman , is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He took over the post from Chong Kah Kiat on March 27, 2003...
from UMNO took up the post and remains the current chief minister of Sabah as of August 2009. The rotation system was abolished in 2005 following BN's landslide victory in Sabah in the 2004 Malaysian general election
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
.
List of chief ministers
The following is the list of Chief Ministers of Sabah since 1963:| # | Chief Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tun Fuad Stephens Tun Fuad Stephens Tun Haji Mohammad Fuad Stephens, previously known as, Donald Stephens, was the first Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He played a fundamental role in bringing the state of Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. He held the chief minister post until 1964, and again in 1976... (1st term) |
Alliance (UNKO) | ||
| 2 | Peter Lo Sui Yin | Alliance (SCA) | ||
| 3 | Mustapha Harun | Alliance (USNO) | ||
| 4 | Mohamad Said Keruak | Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (USNO) |
||
| 5 | Tun Fuad Stephens Tun Fuad Stephens Tun Haji Mohammad Fuad Stephens, previously known as, Donald Stephens, was the first Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He played a fundamental role in bringing the state of Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. He held the chief minister post until 1964, and again in 1976... (2nd term) |
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (BERJAYA) |
||
| 6 | Harris Salleh Harris Salleh Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Harris bin Mohd Salleh, was the 6th Chief Minister of the state of Sabah, in Malaysia. He was also the president for Parti Berjaya. He held the Chief Minister's post from 1976 to 1985... |
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (BERJAYA) |
||
| 7 | Joseph Pairin Kitingan Joseph Pairin Kitingan Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan , is a Malaysian politician and was the seventh Chief Minister of Sabah, a state in Malaysia. He held the post from April 1985 to March 1994. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development of Sabah and has... |
Parti Bersatu Sabah Parti Bersatu Sabah The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985... (1985–1986) |
||
| Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (PBS Parti Bersatu Sabah The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985... ) (1986–1990) |
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| Parti Bersatu Sabah Parti Bersatu Sabah The Parti Bersatu Sabah is a political party in Sabah, east Malaysia. It was registered as a political party on March 5, 1985... (1990–1994) |
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| 8 | Sakaran Dandai | Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (UMNO United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence.... ) |
||
| 9 | Salleh Said Keruak | Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (UMNO United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence.... ) |
||
| 10 | Yong Teck Lee Yong Teck Lee Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is a Malaysian politician of Hakka Chinese descent. He is a former Chief Minister of Sabah and is currently the president of the Sabah Progressive Party .-Political History:... |
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (SAPP Sabah Progressive Party The Sabah Progressive Party is a political party based in Sabah, East Malaysia. It was registered on 21 January 1994 by dissidents led by former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee from Parti Bersatu Sabah . Formerly a component party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, SAPP officially... ) |
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| 11 | Bernard Dompok | Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (UPKO United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation is a political party based in Sabah, east Malaysia. It is an ethnically-based party striving to voice the rights and advance the development of Kadazan-Dusun and Murut population of Sabah and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.-History:The... ) |
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| 12 | Osu Sukam Osu Sukam Datuk Seri Osu bin Haji Sukam, is a former Chief Minister of the Malaysianstate of Sabah. He became the 12th Chief Minister of the state in 1999 and took over the post from Bernard Dompok. Following the rotation system in place at that time, Osu, an ethnic Bajau, held the post for two years... |
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (UMNO United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence.... ) |
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| 13 | Chong Kah Kiat Chong Kah Kiat Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat was the 13th Chief Minister of Sabah, Malaysia. He is also the former president of the Liberal Democratic Party .-History in politics:... |
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (LDP Liberal Democratic Party (Malaysia) The Liberal Democratic Party is a Chinese political party originally founded in the town of Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia by Hiew Min Kong in 1989.The party is considered a minor political party in Malaysia, having its base mainly in Sabah... ) |
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| 14 | Musa Aman Musa Aman Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Musa bin Haji Aman , is the 14th and current Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He took over the post from Chong Kah Kiat on March 27, 2003... |
present | Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence... (UMNO United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence.... ) |
External links
- Chief Minister of Sabah (Official site)