Sarawak Assembly Passes Bill To Increase State Cabinet Members

KUCHING, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Legislative Assembly today passed the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2025, enabling the state government to appoint up to four additional members to the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MMKN) or State Cabinet.

A total of 23 assembly members took part in the debate, before the bill was later passed with 74 votes in favour of it and two against.

Earlier, when tabling the bill, Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the present MMKN structure needed to be strengthened to reflect Sarawak’s expanding administrative landscape and rising governance demands.

He said the MMKN currently comprises the Premier and 10 ministers, as provided under Article 6(3) of the State Constitution, which stipulates that the council shall consist of the Premier and not more than 10 nor less than four ministers appointed from among members of the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Abdul Karim said the amendment was driven in part by the recent expansion of the DUN, which increased its membership from 82 to 99 following the enforcement of Members of Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Ordinance 2025 on Aug 8 this year.

“With the increase in the number of constituencies and administrative areas, the present composition of the MMKN is no longer proportionate to the state’s expanding governance structure,” he said during the assembly sitting here today.

Abdul Karim who is also Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister added that several ministers were currently holding multiple portfolios, resulting in heavier administrative responsibilities and increased demands to manage a wider range of duties across key sectors.

“Therefore, an increase in the number of members of the MMKN is both reasonable and necessary. This measure will strengthen the state’s executive machinery, enhance policy coordination and ensure that ministerial portfolios can be distributed evenly and implemented effectively,” he said.

He said the amendment would also allow the state government to better respond to the needs of the people and deliver services with greater focus across all key sectors.

The Asajaya assemblyman emphasised that the new provision was firmly within the constitutional authority of the state legislature.

“This Bill does not disturb the cornerstone of that framework. The core composition prescribed under Article 6 remains untouched.

“Instead, the amendment introduces a measured enabling provision allowing the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, on the advice of the Premier, to appoint up to four additional members when necessary,” he said, adding that the move was a carefully calibrated mechanism to provide flexibility and responsiveness within the existing constitutional design.

-- BERNAMA