# Order of precedence in Sabah

The Sabah order of precedence is a hierarchy of important positions within the state of Sabah, Malaysia. It has no legal standing but is used by ceremonial protocol. The order of precedence is determined by the State Order of Precedence issued by the Sabah Chief Minister's Department. The latest one was issued on 1 September 1996 with amendments entered into force on 3 October 2003. Unless otherwise noted, precedence among persons of equal rank is determined by seniority. As a general rule, spouses share the same rank with another and a person with two positions will take the highest one.

## Details

The following lists precedence of offices and their holders as of 22 October 2023.
* Colour legend
* Heads and deputy heads of states
* Members of the Federal and State Administrations
* Members of the Federal and State Legislatures
* Members of the Judiciary
* Diplomats
* Civil service, military and police members
* Others

### State-level ceremonies

| Rank | Position | Incumbent (as of 22 October 2023) |
| 1 | Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
| 2 | Chief Minister | Hajiji Noor MLA, Minister of Finance |
| 3 | Former Governors | By departure from office: Ahmadshah Abdullah (31 December 2010) |
| 4 | Grand Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) | See above |
| 5 | Grand Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) | None from Sabah |
| 6 | Former acting Governors and widows of former Governors | Rahimah Stephens, widow of Mohammad Fuad Stephens Siti Rukaiyah Abdullah, widow of Sakaran Dandai |
| 7 | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | Kadzim M. Yahya |
| 8 | Deputy Chief Ministers | Dr. Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan MP MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Dr. Joachim Gunsalam MLA, Minister of Local Government and Housing Shahelmey Yahya MP MLA, Minister of Works |
| 9 | Federal Ministers | From Sabah: Ewon Benedick MP MLA, Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Co-operatives Armizan Mohd. Ali MP, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah-Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) |
| 10 | Ministers of State | Cabinet ministers: Masidi Manjun MLA, Minister of Finance Jahid Jahim MLA, Minister of Rural Development Christina Liew Chin Jin MLA, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Phoong Jin Zhe MLA, Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Dr. Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif MLA, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation James Ratib MLA, Minister of Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ellron Alfred Angin MLA, Minister of Youth and Sports Ministers outside Cabinet (placed below after the State Secretary): Rubin Balang MLA, Chairman of Sabah State Economic Development Corporation Masiung Banah MLA, Chairman of Housing and Town Development Authority of Sabah Dr. Yusof Yacob MLA, Chairman of Qhazanah Sabah Berhad Pandikar Amin Mulia, Sabah BIMP-EAGA Special Envoy Frankie Poon Ming Fung MLA, Chairman of Sabah Development Berhad Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar MLA, Director of Sabah Foundation Senator Anifah Aman, Chairman of Labuan Corporation |
| 11 | Former Chief Ministers | By departure from office: Mohd. Harris Salleh (22 April 1985) Joseph Pairin Kitingan (17 March 1994) Mohd. Salleh Mohd. Said MLA (28 May 1996) Yong Teck Lee MLA (28 May 1998) Bernard Giluk Dompok (14 March 1999) Osu Sukam (27 March 2001) Chong Kah Kiat (27 March 2003) Musa Aman (12 May 2018) Mohd. Shafie Apdal MLA (28 September 2020) |
| 12 | Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak | Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli |
| 13 | State Secretary | Sr. Safar Untong |
| 14 | Federal Secretary to the State | Makhzan Mahyuddin |
| 15 | Army Eastern Field Commander | Major General Razak Malek Sulaiman |
| 16 | Navy Eastern Fleet Commander | Vice Admiral Muhammad Ruzelme Ahmad Fahimy |
| 17 | State Police Commissioner | Jauteh Dikun |
| 18 | Deputy Speakers of the Legislative Assembly | Richard Yong We Kong Al Hambra Juhar |
| 19 | Assistant Ministers of State | See here |
| 20 | Judges of the High Court | Refer to the Registry General of the Federal Court |
| 21 | Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 22 | Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 23 | Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 24 | Senators and Members of the House of Representatives | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 25 | Members of the Legislative Assembly | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 26 | Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 27 | Consul-General of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu | Rafail Walangitan |
| 28 | Chairpersons of Commission established under the State Constitution | Sukarti Wakiman, Chairman of State Public Service Commission |
| 29 | State Attorney-General | Nor Asiah Mohd. Yusof |
| 30 | Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Finance | Mohd. Sofian Alfian Nair |
| 31 | Deputy State Secretaries | Diyanah Abdullah (Administration) Dr. Ahemad Sade (Development) Sapdin Ibrahim (Special Duties) |
| 32 | Chairpersons of State Statutory Bodies | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 33 | State Mufti | Bungsu Aziz Jaafar |
| 34 | Accredited Consuls, Honorary Consuls and Honorary Representatives of foreign states | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 35 | Permanent Secretaries of State Ministries | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 36 | Presidents of Municipal Councils | By date of incorporation: Noorliza Awang Alip, Mayoress of Kota Kinabalu City Henry Idol, President of Sandakan Municipal Council Joseph Pang Pick Lim, President of Tawau Municipal Council |
| 37 | Grade 52 officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 38 | State Political Secretaries | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 39 | Bishops and religious leaders | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 40 | Justices of Peace | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 41 | Companions of the Order of Kinabalu (ASDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 42 | Members of Commission established under the State Constitution | Claudius Roman, Deputy Chairman Idrus Shafie Mariam Omar Janet Chee Ken Liam Halima Nawab Khan Awang Shamsi Jamih Ariffin Gadait Iman Ali |
| 43 | Grade 41 to 51 officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 44 | Members of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 45 | Members of the First Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BSK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 46 | Members of the Second Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |

### Federal-level ceremonies

| Rank | Position | Incumbent (as of 22 October 2023) |
| 1 | Yang di-Pertuan Agong | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 2 | Raja Permaisuri Agong | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 3 | Governor | See the above list |
| 4 | Rulers of royal States | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 5 | Governors of non-royal States | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 6 | Prime Minister | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 6A | Heirs to the Thrones of royal States | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 7 | Deputy Prime Minister | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 8 | Chief Minister | See the above list |
| 8A | Head of other State Governments | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 9 | Former Governors | See the above list |
| 10 | Grand Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) | Refer here |
| 11 | Grand Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) | Refer here |
| 12 | Former acting Governors and widows of former Governors | See the above list |
| 13 | Chief Justice | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 14 | President of the Senate | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 15 | Speaker of the House of Representatives | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 16 | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | See the above list |
| 16A | Speaker of other Legislative Assemblies | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 17 | Deputy Chief Ministers | See the above list |
| 18 | Federal Ministers | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 19 | Ministers of State | See the above list |
| 19A | Ministers of State (of Sarawak) | Refer to Sarawak State Government |
| 19B | Members of other State Executive Councils | Refer to the respective State Government |
| 20 | High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Ministers Plenipotentiary and Charge d'Affaires | Refer here |
| 21 | Chief Judges | Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohamad Diah, Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Mohd. Amran Mat Zain, Chief Judge of Federal Syariah Court Justice Samal Munji, Covering Chief Judge of State Syariah Court |
| 22 | Chief Secretary to the Government | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 23 | State Secretary | See the above list |
| 23A | Other State Secretaries | Refer here |
| 23B | Justices of the Supreme Court | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 23C | Deputy President of the Senate and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 24 | Federal Deputy Ministers | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 25 | Deputy Speakers of the Legislative Assembly | See the above list |
| 26 | Assistant Ministers of State | See here |
| 26A | Deputy Ministers of State (of Sarawak) | Refer to Sarawak State Government |
| 26B | Parliamentary Secretaries | None |
| 27 | Federal Attorney-General | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 28 | Chief of Defence Force | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 29 | Inspector General of Police | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 30 | Secretary General, Federal Ministry of Finance | Refer to the Federal Ministry of Finance |
| 31 | Director-General of Public Service | Refer to the Prime Minister's Office |
| 31A | Prime Ministers' Special Advisor | Refer to the Prime Minister's Office |
| 31B | Premier Grade 2 and 3 officers | Refer here |
| 32 | Judges of the High Court | See the above list |
| 32A | Governor of the Central Bank | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 32B | Keeper of the Rulers' Seal | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 32C | Grand Chamberlain | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 33 | Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) | Refer here |
| 34 | Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) | Refer here |
| 34A | Former Chief Ministers | See the above list |
| 35 | Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 36 | Senators | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 37 | Members of the House of Representatives | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 38 | Members of the Legislative Assembly | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 38A | Members of the other Legislative Assemblies | Refer to the respective State Government |
| 39 | Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 39A | Royal Professor | None |
| 39B | Commanders of the Most Distinguished Royal Family Order of Loyalty (PSD) | Refer here |
| 39C | Recipients of state order bringing the title of Datuk or Dato' | Refer to the respective State Government |
| 40 | Consul-General of Indonesia in Sabah and Sarawak | See the above list |
| 41 | Chairpersons of Commission established under the State Constitution | See the above list |
| 41A | Federal Secretary to the State | See the above list |
| 42 | State Attorney-General | See the above list |
| 43 | Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Finance | See the above list |
| 44 | Deputy State Secretaries | See the above list |
| 45 | Chairpersons of State Statutory Bodies | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 46 | Army Eastern Field and Navy Eastern Fleet Commanders | See the above list |
| 47 | State Police Commissioner | See the above list |
| 48 | State Mufti | See the above list |
| 49 | Accredited Consuls, Honorary Consuls and Honorary Representatives of foreign states | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 50 | Super Grade A and B officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 51 | Secretaries-General of Federal Ministries | Refer here |
| 51A | United Nations Resident Representative | See Malaysian order of precedence |
| 52 | Presidents of Municipal Councils | See the above list |
| 53 | Grade 45 and above officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 54 | State Political Secretaries | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 54A | Federal Political Secretaries | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 55 | Bishops and religious leaders | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 56 | Justices of Peace | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 57 | Companions of the Order of Kinabalu (ASDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 58 | Members of Commission established under the State Constitution | See the above list |
| 59 | Grade 41 to 44 officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 60 | Members of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 61 | Members of the First Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BSK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 62 | Members of the Second Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |

### District-level ceremonies

| Rank | Position | Incumbent |
| 1 | Governor | See the above list |
| 2 | Chief Minister | See the above list |
| 3 | Presidents of Municipal Councils | See the above list |
| 3A | District Officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 3B | Chairpersons of Town Boards | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 3C | Chairpersons of District Councils | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 4 | Grand Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) | Refer here |
| 5 | Grand Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) | Refer here |
| 6 | Ministers of State | See the above list |
| 7 | Assistant Ministers of State | See the above list |
| 7A | Judges of the High Court | See the above list |
| 8 | Commanders of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) | Refer here |
| 9 | Commanders of the Distinguished Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) | Refer here |
| 10 | Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 11 | Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 11A | Senators | Refer to the Parliament |
| 11B | Members of the House of Representatives | Refer to the Parliament |
| 12 | Members of the Legislative Assembly | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 12A | Accredited Consuls of foreign states | Refer to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 13 | Grade 52 and above officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 14 | Political Secretaries | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 15 | District Magistrates | Refer to the Registry of Sabah High Court |
| 16 | Justices of Peace | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 17 | Companions of the Order of Kinabalu (ASDK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 18 | Members of Commission established under the State Constitution | See the above list |
| 19 | Division Police Chief | Refer to the Police State Contingent |
| 19A | Officers-in-Charge of Police District | Refer to the Police District Office |
| 20 | Armed Forces commanding officers | Refer to the Armed Forces |
| 21 | Grand Qadhi | Refer to the State Islamic Affairs Department |
| 21A | Division Qadhis | Refer to the State Islamic Affairs Department |
| 22 | Grade 41 to 51 officers | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 23 | Members of Municipal Councils | Refer to the respective Municipal Council |
| 23A | Members of Town Boards | Refer to the respective Town Board |
| 23B | Members of District Councils | Refer to the respective District Council |
| 24 | Religious leaders | Refer to the respective District Office |
| 25 | District Chiefs | Refer to the respective District Native Court |
| 26 | Assistant District Officers | Refer to the respective District Office |
| 27 | Community Development Leaders | Refer to the respective District Office for Community Development |
| 28 | Community Development Officers | Refer to the respective District Office for Community Development |
| 29 | Native Chiefs | Refer to the respective District Native Court |
| 29A | District Imams | Refer to the respective District Office for Islamic Affairs |
| 29B | Headmen | Refer to the respective District Office for Community Development |
| 30 | Chinese Captains | Refer to the respective District Office |
| 31 | Members of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 32 | Members of the First Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BSK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 33 | Members of the Second Class of the Medal of Kinabalu (BK) | Refer to the State Protocol and Ceremonial Division |
| 34 | Chairmen of Village Security and Development Committees | Refer to the respective District Office |
| 35 | Village Chiefs | Refer to the respective District Office |