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, will be governed by :
  • "Dewan Bandaraya"
  • "Majlis Perbandaran"
  • "Majlis Daerah"
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.
DistrictName of the local government executiveDate of establishmentNumber of council membersDecree
BeaufortBeaufort District Council1 January 196220Beaufort District Council Instrument
BeluranBeluran District Council1 July 196811Labuk/Sugut District Council Instrument 1968
KeningauKeningau District Council1 January 196220Keningau District Council Instrument
Kota BeludKota Belud District Council1 January 196218Kota Belud District Council Instrument
KinabatanganKinabatangan District Council1 July 196811Kinabatangan District Council Instrument
Kota KinabaluKota Kinabalu City Hall2 February 200020Kota Kinabalu City Hall Instrument 2000
Kota MaruduKota Marudu District Council1 January 198318Kota Marudu District Council Instrument
Kuala PenyuKuala Penyu District Council1 January 196218Kuala Penyu District Council Instrument
KudatKudat Town Board1 January 198320Kudat Town Board Instrument 1982
KunakKunak District Council1 June 199418Kunak District Council Instrument 1994
Lahad DatuLahad Datu District Council1 January 196218Lahad Datu District Council Instrument
PaparPapar District Council1 January 196220Papar District Council Instrument
PenampangPenampang District Council1 January 196220Penampang District Council Instrument
NabawanNabawan District Council1 January 196411Pensiangan District Council Instrument 1964
PitasPitas District Council8 June 201018Pitas District Council Instrument 2009
PutatanPutatan District Council8 June 201018Putatan District Council Instrument 2010
RanauRanau District Council1 January 196218Ranau District Council Instrument
SandakanSandakan Municipal Council1 January 198220Sandakan Municipal Council Instrument
SempornaSemporna District Council1 January 196218Semporna District Council Instrument
SipitangSipitang District Council1 January 196218Sipitang District Council Instrument
TambunanTambunan District Council1 January 196218Tambunan District Council Instrument
TawauTawau Municipal Council1 January 198224Tawau Municipal Council Instrument
Telupid
TenomTenom District Council1 January 196218Tenom District Council Instrument
TongodTongod District Council
TuaranTuaran District Council1 January 196220Tuaran 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. 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. 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:
BanggiKemabongMatunggongMenumbok--
PagalunganSookSukauTamparuliTungku

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
Majlis Perbandaran
Majlis Daerah
Populationfrom 500,000 inhabitantsfrom 150,000 inhabitantsless than 150,000 inhabitants
Tax revenuesSustainably secured income of at least RM100 millionSustainably secured income of at least RM20 millionLess than RM20 million
AreasKota KinabaluSandakan, TawauBeaufort, 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, 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:
AbbreviationMalay translationOfficial English term
L.A.A.Local Authority Area
D.B.Dewan BandarayaCity Hall
M.P.Majlis PerbandaranMunicipal Council
M.D.Majlis DaerahDistrict Council
L.B.Lembaga BandaranTown Board