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Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...
, the Menteri Besar ( Jawi:منتري بسر; literally ''
First Minister A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of '' ...
''), colloquially referred to as MB, is the
head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
of each of nine states in
Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...
with hereditary rulers. For four states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister (''Ketua Menteri;'' colloquially referred to as KM in Malay or CM in English), is used except for
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
where it uses Premier (''Premier)''. The title "Menteri Besar" is usually untranslated in the English media in Malaysia, but is typically translated as 'Chief Minister' by foreign media. According to protocol, all Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers and Premier are styled ''Yang Amat Berhormat'' (abbreviated YAB), which means "The Most Honourable". The nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states and the appointed governors of the other four states serve as constitutional and ceremonial heads of their states, while the state executive authority rests with the Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers and Premier. Following elections to the state legislative assembly, the Ruler or Governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the
state government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonom ...
. The Ruler or Governor appoints and swears in the Menteri Besar, Chief Ministers and Premier, whose executive council (or Cabinet in Sabah and Sarawak) are collectively responsible to the assembly. Based on the Westminster system, given that he retains the confidence of the assembly, the terms of Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers and Premier can last for the length of the assembly's life—a maximum of five years. There are no limits to the number of terms that the Menteri Besar, Chief Minister and Premier can serve.


Background

In most states within Malaysia, the office was created by the British colonial government in 1948, in tandem with the creation of the
Federation of Malaya The Federation of Malaya ( ms, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu; Jawi: ) was a federation of what previously had been British Malaya comprising eleven states (nine Malay states and two of the British Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca)''See' ...
. However,
Johor Johor (; ), also spelled as Johore, is a state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. Johor has land borders with the Malaysian states of Pahang to the north and Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the northwest. Johor shares mariti ...
was the first state to create the ''Menteri Besar'' position, subject to ''
Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor Johor State Constitution ( ms, Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor) is the state constitution of Johor, promulgated on 14 April 1895 by Sultan Abu Bakar. The contents of the constitution covers many aspects: * The procedures for the selection and coro ...
'' (Johor State Constitution) enforced by Sultan Abu Bakar. This had made Johor the first Malay state to adopt a system of
constitutional monarchy A constitutional monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making. Constitutional monarchies dif ...
. After Malaya gained independence from the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
in 1957, the office bearer is appointed among the state legislative assembly members by the Sultans. The Menteri Besar, Chief Minister and Premier usually come from the party (or coalition) which commands a majority in the state assembly.


Relations between the Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers, Premier and other levels of government

For many decades, the First Ministers (''Menteri Besar''), Chief Ministers (''Ketua Menteri'') and Premier (''Premier'') met with each other and the Prime Minister at ''Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Besar, Ketua-Ketua Menteri dan Premier''.


Selection process


Eligibility

By comparison, the thirteen state constitutions (''Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri'' or ''Perlembagaan Negeri'') have some similarities and also some differences in setting the principle qualifications one must meet to be eligible to the office of the Menteri Besar, Chief Minister and Premier. A ''Menteri Besar'' or ''Ketua Menteri'' or ''Premier'' must be a
Malaysian citizen Malaysian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Malaysia. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force on 27 August 1957. All persons born in M ...
, of at least 21 years of age and a member of state legislative assembly who commands the confidence of the majority of the members of the assembly. Upon appointment, he shall not hold any office of profit and engage in any trade, business or profession that will cause
conflict of interest A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, financial or otherwise, and serving one interest could involve working against another. Typically, this relates to situations i ...
. For four states in Malaysia with governors (namely
Penang Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the M ...
,
Malacca Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has bee ...
,
Sabah Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory ...
and
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
), the office of ''Ketua Menteri'' and ''Premier'' are open to any Malaysian citizen regardless of their religion, ethnicity, and gender. However, citizens by naturalization or registration are still prohibited by state laws.


Election

The Menteri Besar, Chief Minister and Premier are elected through a majority in the state legislative assembly. This is procedurally established by the vote of confidence in the legislative assembly, as suggested by the Ruler (or Governor) of the state who is the appointing authority.


Oath

Since, according to the constitution, the Menteri Besar is appointed by the Ruler (or, in case of the Chief Minister and Premier, the Governor), the swearing-in is done before the Ruler (or Governor) of the state.


Remuneration

Remuneration of the Menteri Besar, Chief Minister, Premier as well as other members of the Executive Council (or Cabinet) and members of the state legislative assembly are to be decided by the respective state legislatures. Hence this varies from state to state according to their ordinance or enactment that amended by the state legislative.


Present Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers and Premier


Timeline


See also

* Opposition (Malaysia)


References

{{Menteri Besars and Chief Ministers Chief ministers of Malaysian states Government of Malaysia Politics of Malaysia State political office-holders in Malaysia 20th-century Malaysian politicians 21st-century Malaysian politicians