KUCHING: The chief minister of Sarawak will be addressed in English as the premier of Sarawak and “premier Sarawak” in Bahasa Malaysia with effect from Tuesday (March 1), Sarawak state secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion said.
He said the usage of the term came into force following amendments to the Sarawak Constitution, for which the Bill was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on Feb 15.
“This amendment is effective from today, March 1, 2022. The Chief Minister’s Office will be referred to in English as the ‘Office of the Premier of Sarawak’ and in Bahasa Malaysia as ‘Pejabat Premier Sarawak’,” he said in a statement.
He said the Sarawak deputy chief minister will be referred to as the deputy premier or “timbalan premier” in Bahasa Malaysia, while assistant ministers will now be referred to as deputy ministers.
The amendments to change the designations were passed by the State Legislative Assembly with more than a two-thirds majority when 67 members voted in favour while six members opposed.
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who tabled the Bill then, said the amendment under Article 6(3) of the State Consitution was in accordance with the amendment to the Federal Constitution enforced on Feb 11.
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