Sabah association proposes CM post be renamed ‘premier’

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association (Pekadin) has proposed that the designation of chief minister in Sabah be changed to “premier”.

Its president Newmond Tibin suggested that the Sabah government table the matter at the Sabah assembly in March for discussion and scrutiny.

He said Pekadin was of the view that the top titles for Sabah and Sarawak should reflect the two states’ equal positions, as Sarawak has already changed it to premier.

“The coordination of the title of chief minister is appropriate to reflect the equivalence of position in the Federation of Malaysia, in accordance with the original agreement on the formation of Malaysia 1963 (MA63), (whereby) the regions of Sabah, Sarawak, and Malaya (are equal),” he said in a statement today.

Newmond said Melaka and Penang, which are included in Malaya through MA63, currently use the title of chief minister as an appendage to the larger position of premier.

On February 15 last year, the Sarawak assembly passed the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022, changing the designation of chief minister to premier with a majority of more than two-thirds. – Bernama, January 23, 2023