# Government of Sabah

The Sabah State Government is an authority governing Sabah, one of Borneo states of Malaysia, based in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, and the Constitution of the State of Sabah, the supreme law of the State.
The state government has only two branches: executive and legislative. Sabah has no judiciary branch due to the federalisation of court system in Malaysia. Although Sabah has jurisdictions towards Sharia and Native Courts (and their respective laws), both courts are still considered a part of the state executive branch.

## Legislative

The state legislature consists of only a unicameral house called the State Legislative Assembly. All 60 members of the Assembly are elected from single-member districts by universal adult suffrage. The Assembly follows a multi-party system and the governing body is elected through a first-past-the-post system. The State may appoint up to six nominated members of the Assembly based on conditions provided by the State Constitution.
The Assembly has a maximum mandate of five years by law. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri may dissolve the state legislature at any time and usually does so upon the advice of the Chief Minister.

## Executive
### Cabinet

Executive power is vested in the Cabinet led by the Chief Minister. The State Constitution stipulates that the Chief Minister must be a member of the State Legislative Assembly who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, commands a majority in the State Legislative Assembly. The Cabinet is chosen among members of the State Legislative Assembly and is responsible to that body. The executive branch of the government consists of the Chief Minister as the head of the government, followed by the various ministers of the Cabinet.

### Ministries and agencies

Since 1 February 2023, Sabah State Government comprises the following ministries, which subsequently divided to following agencies:
| Ministry | State agencies | Additional charge of Federal matters |
| Chief Minister's Department | State departments: Chief Minister's Department State Palace Chief Minister's Office Office of the State Secretary Office of the Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Office of the Deputy State Secretary (Development) Cabinet and Policy Division Archived 2017-01-15 at the Wayback Machine (BKD) Community Development Leaders' Unit (UPPM) Government Printing Department (JCK) Internal Affairs and Research Office (PHEDNP) Management and Finance Division (BPK) Natural Resources Office (PHB) Press and Publications Office (PAP) Protocol and Ceremony Division Archived 2020-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (BIP) Sabah State Integrity Unit Sabah State Liaison Office, Kuala Lumpur (PPNSKL) State Legislative Assembly (Website Archived 2014-12-08 at the Wayback Machine) State Public Service Commission (SPANS) State Attorney-General's Chambers (SAGC) Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) (Website) Sabah Forestry Department Archived 2014-01-15 at the Wayback Machine Sabah Lands and Surveys Department (JTU) Sabah State Archives Department Sabah State Public Service Department Archived 2017-11-18 at the Wayback Machine (JPAN) State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) Office of the State Mufti (PMNS) Sabah State Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) Sabah State Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSNS) State statutory bodies: Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SaBC) Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) (Website) Sabah Forest Development Authority (SAFODA) Sabah Foundation (YS) (Website) Sabah Land Development Board Archived 2020-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (SLDB) Sabah State Baitulmal Corporation (PBNS) Sabah State Islamic Affairs Council (MUIS) Tun Fuad Foundation (YTF) State-owned companies: Institute for Development Studies (IDS) MLGH (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd. Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn. Bhd. Sabah Forest Industries Sdn. Bhd. (SFI) Sawit Kinabalu Bhd. | Defence Foreign affairs Internal security Other Federal matters |
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries | State departments: Department of Fisheries Archived 2020-11-28 at the Wayback Machine (DOF) Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) State statutory bodies: Rural Development Corporation (KPD) Sabah Fishermen and Fishery Development Corporation (KO-NELAYAN) Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) | None |
| Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing | State departments: Department of Women Affairs (JHEWA) Department of General Welfare Service (JPKA) State statutory bodies: Sabah Social Service Council (MPMS) | Consumer affairs Unity and national integration Health |
| Ministry of Finance | State departments: State Treasurer's Department (JBN) State statutory bodies: Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) State-owned companies: Borneo Development Corporation (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd. (BDC) Borneo Housing Mortgage Finance Bhd. (BHMF) Desa Group of Companies Koperasi Jelata Sabah Bhd. (KOJASA) Permodalan Bumiputra Sabah Bhd. Archived 2020-11-17 at the Wayback Machine (PBSB) Progressive Insurance Bhd. Sabah Air Aviation Sdn. Bhd. (Website) Sabah Development Bank Bhd. (SDB) Saham Sabah Bhd. (SSB) Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn. Bhd. (WHSSB) Yayasan Bumiputera Sabah Bhd. (YBS) Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM) | None |
| Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development | State departments: Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) State statutory boards: Sabah Economic Development Corporation Archived 2017-03-29 at the Wayback Machine (SEDCO) State-owned companies: Invest Sabah Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park Sdn. Bhd. (KKIP) POIC Sabah Sdn. Bhd. Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (SOGDC) | None |
| Ministry of Local Government and Housing | State departments: Department of Native Affairs (JHEAN) Department of Town and Country Planning Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine (JPBW) State statutory bodies: Beaufort District Council Beluran District Council Keningau District Council Kinabatangan District Council Kota Belud District Council Kota Marudu District Council Kuala Penyu District Council Kudat Town Board Kunak District Council Lahad Datu District Council Nabawan District Council Papar District Council Penampang District Council Pitas District Council Putatan District Council Ranau District Council Sabah Native Affairs Council (MHEANS) Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) Semporna District Council Sipitang District Council Tambunan District Council Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) Tenom District Council Tongod District Council Tuaran District Council Urban and Housing Development Board (LPPB) | None |
| Ministry of Rural Development | State departments: Beaufort District Office Membakut Subdistrict Office Beluran District Office Paitan Subdistrict Office Keningau District Office Sook Subdistrict Office Kinabatangan District Office Kota Belud District Office Kota Marudu District Office Kuala Penyu District Office Menumbok Subdistrict Office Kudat District Office Kunak District Office Banggi Subdistrict Office Matunggong Subdistrict Office Lahad Datu District Office Tungku Subdistrict Office Nabawan District Office Pagalungan Subdistrict Office Papar District Office Penampang District Office Pitas District Office Putatan District Office Ranau District Office Semporna District Office Sipitang District Office Tambunan District Office Telupid District Office Tenom District Office Kemabong Subdistrict Office Tongod District Office Tuaran District Office Kiulu Subdistrict Office Tamparuli Subdistrict Office | None |
| Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation | State departments: State Computer Services Department (JPKN) Human Resources Development Department (JPSM) Sabah State Library (PNS) State-owned companies: Sabah Net Sdn. Bhd. Archived 2018-11-25 at the Wayback Machine Sabah Skills and Technology Centre (SSTC) Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC) | Education Communication Digital |
| Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment | State departments: Sabah Environment Protection Department (JPAS) Sabah Museum Department Sabah Wildlife Department (Website Archived 2012-10-15 at the Wayback Machine) State statutory boards: Sabah Parks (Website) Sabah Cultural Board Archived 2018-09-10 at the Wayback Machine (LKNS) Sabah Tourism Board (STB) | None |
| Ministry of Works | State departments: Ports and Harbours Department Archived 2020-11-27 at the Wayback Machine (JPDS) Public Works Department (JKR) State Water Department (JANS) State Railway Department (Website) State Sewerage Department (JPP Sabah) State statutory boards: Sabah Ports Authority (LPPS) | None |
| Ministry of Youth and Sports | State statutory bodies: Sabah State Sports Board (LSNS) Sabah State Sports Council (MSN Sabah) State-owned companies: Koperasi Serbaguna SANYA Bhd. Archived 2016-12-21 at the Wayback Machine (KOSAN) | None |

## Head of government

The Chief Minister of Sabah (Malay: Ketua Menteri Sabah) is the indirectly elected head of government of Sabah. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor), who in His Excellency's judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of State Legislative Assembly. He heads the State Cabinet, whose members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negara on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister and his Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to State Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister's Department is the body and ministry in which the Chief Minister exercises its functions and powers.