# Local government in Sabah

The local government in Sabah is the lowest level government in Sabah, Malaysia. It ranks third in the Malaysian government system after federal and state government. Local governments have the power to levy property taxes, to enact local laws and regulations, and to issue licenses and permits for any type of trade in their area. However, it also has the obligation to provide basic utilities, such as to regulate rubbish collection and waste disposal and to ensure urban or regional planning.
The district and municipal constitution in Sabah is based on the Local Government Ordinance 1961. This ordinance also regulates the responsibilities and functions of community organs. A state ministry, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, which was first established after the 1963 state elections, regulates the activities of the district/municipal authorities in the state of Sabah.

## Foundation of local administration

Sabah is divided into administrative districts. The administrative districts are made up of towns and defined areas. These administrative districts, commonly referred to as the L.A.A (local authority area), will be governed by (depending on the status of the administrative district governed):
* "Dewan Bandaraya" (City Hall)
* "Majlis Perbandaran" (Municipal Council)
* "Majlis Daerah" (District Council)
The basis of this structure is the Local Government Ordinance 1961. This decree empowers the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, among other things, to equip the districts with certain powers and to determine the names and boundaries of the districts. The structure of the administrative districts was first established in 1961 by this ordinance and then amended as necessary by decree (Administrative Divisions Proclamation).
| District | Name of the local government executive | Date of establishment | Number of council members | Decree |
| Beaufort | Beaufort District Council | 1 January 1962 | 20 | Beaufort District Council Instrument |
| Beluran | Beluran District Council | 1 July 1968 | 11 | Labuk/Sugut District Council Instrument 1968 |
| Keningau | Keningau District Council | 1 January 1962 | 20 | Keningau District Council Instrument |
| Kota Belud | Kota Belud District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Kota Belud District Council Instrument |
| Kinabatangan | Kinabatangan District Council | 1 July 1968 | 11 | Kinabatangan District Council Instrument |
| Kota Kinabalu | Kota Kinabalu City Hall | 2 February 2000 | 20 | Kota Kinabalu City Hall Instrument 2000 |
| Kota Marudu | Kota Marudu District Council | 1 January 1983 | 18 | Kota Marudu District Council Instrument |
| Kuala Penyu | Kuala Penyu District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Kuala Penyu District Council Instrument |
| Kudat | Kudat Town Board | 1 January 1983 | 20 | Kudat Town Board Instrument 1982 |
| Kunak | Kunak District Council | 1 June 1994 | 18 | Kunak District Council Instrument 1994 |
| Lahad Datu | Lahad Datu District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Lahad Datu District Council Instrument |
| Papar | Papar District Council | 1 January 1962 | 20 | Papar District Council Instrument |
| Penampang | Penampang District Council | 1 January 1962 | 20 | Penampang District Council Instrument |
| Nabawan | Nabawan District Council | 1 January 1964 | 11 | Pensiangan District Council Instrument 1964 |
| Pitas | Pitas District Council | 8 June 2010 | 18 | Pitas District Council Instrument 2009 |
| Putatan | Putatan District Council | 8 June 2010 | 18 | Putatan District Council Instrument 2010 |
| Ranau | Ranau District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Ranau District Council Instrument |
| Sandakan | Sandakan Municipal Council | 1 January 1982 | 20 | Sandakan Municipal Council Instrument |
| Semporna | Semporna District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Semporna District Council Instrument |
| Sipitang | Sipitang District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Sipitang District Council Instrument |
| Tambunan | Tambunan District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Tambunan District Council Instrument |
| Tawau | Tawau Municipal Council | 1 January 1982 | 24 | Tawau Municipal Council Instrument |
| Telupid | | | | |
| Tenom | Tenom District Council | 1 January 1962 | 18 | Tenom District Council Instrument |
| Tongod | Tongod District Council | | | |
| Tuaran | Tuaran District Council | 1 January 1962 | 20 | Tuaran District Council Instrument 1961 |

## Division to districts

Sabah is initially divided into five administrative areas - Interior Division, Kudat Division, Sandakan Division, Tawau Division and West Coast Division. These administrative areas are assigned to districts. The administration of a district is the responsibility of a district officer. Associated with the district office is an assistant district officer. The administrative headquarters of the district is the District Office (Pejabat Daerah). Usually, the districts are named after the largest city/towns within the area or after the seat of the administration; For example, the town of Sandakan is the largest in the district of Sandakan under the Sandakan Division. Districts can be further subdivided into sub-districts (daerah kecil, literally "small district"). These do not represent a separate administrative level, but are to be understood as an "extended arm" of the district office, which perform certain administrative tasks in the district/municipalities. The status of a sub-district is an important step in the direction to achieve full district status. Until 2011, there were 11 sub-districts in Sabah:
| Banggi | Kemabong | Matunggong | Menumbok |
| Pagalungan | Sook | Sukau | Tamparuli | Tungku |

## Status of administrative districts

Sabah has three different types of administrative districts. The lowest level of a local authority is the district administered by a district council. There are certain criteria for upgrading:
| | Dewan Bandaraya (City Hall) | Majlis Perbandaran (Municipal Council) | Majlis Daerah (District Council) |
| Population | from 500,000 inhabitants | from 150,000 inhabitants | less than 150,000 inhabitants |
| Tax revenues | Sustainably secured income of at least RM100 million | Sustainably secured income of at least RM20 million | Less than RM20 million |
| Areas | Kota Kinabalu | Sandakan, Tawau | Beaufort, Keningau, Kinabatangan/Tongod, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu/Pitas, Kuala Penyu, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Nabawan, Papar, Penampang/Putatan, Ranau, Semporna, Sipitang, Tambunan, Tenom, Tuaran, Kudat |
The "Local Government Department of States of Malaysia" criteria for the status of a local authority comprise a number of requirements. For example, Kota Kinabalu had to prove for his status as a city hall, among other things:
* sustainable urban development;
* the presence of an industrial centre, a financial and commercial centre and tourism and business-oriented hotels;
* a fully developed infrastructure including public transport;
* a public perception of the city on a national and international level;
* a full range of educational facilities such as university, college, museum and public library;
* an internationally active centre of sports and cultural activities as well;
* the organisation of national and international congresses

## Others
### Differences from other states

Unlike other states in Malaysia, the administrative level of mukim does not exist in Sabah. In the context of the district/municipal administration in Sabah, mukim are a summary of various settlements and villages, which, however, are subordinate to the district offices.

### Dependencies

In contrast to the situation in Germany, where the municipal councils always represent the representation of the municipal citizens even in their different forms (municipal representation), the members of the "City Hall", the "Municipal Council" and the "District Council" are not democratically elected by the people as they are appointed by the Minister of Local Government and Housing. The effectiveness of local laws and regulations is also only established by their ratification by the Minister of State.

### Common abbreviations

Within the administrative of Sabah, the following abbreviations are often found:
| Abbreviation | Malay translation | Official English term |
| L.A.A. | | Local Authority Area |
| D.B. | Dewan Bandaraya | City Hall |
| M.P. | Majlis Perbandaran | Municipal Council |
| M.D. | Majlis Daerah | District Council |
| L.B. | Lembaga Bandaran | Town Board |