Menteri Besar

In Malaysia, the Menteri Besar (Jawi:منتري بسر; literally "First Minister") is the head of government of each of nine states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For four states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister (Ketua Menteri) is used. The title 'Menteri Besar' is usually untranslated in the English media in Malaysia, but is typically translated as 'Chief Minister' by foreign media. According to protocol, all Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers are styled Yang Amat Berhormat (abbreviated YAB), which means "The Most Honourable".

The nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states and the appointed governors of the other four states serve as constitutional and ceremonial heads of their states, with the state executive authority rests with the Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers. Following elections to the state legislative assembly, the Ruler or Governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the state government. The Ruler or Governor appoints and swears in the Menteris Besar or Chief Ministers, whose executive council (except Sabah and Sarawak which known as Cabinet) are collectively responsible to the assembly. Based on the Westminster system, given that he retains the confidence of the assembly, the Menteri's Besar or Chief Minister's term can last for the length of the assembly's life—a maximum of five years. There are no limits to the number of terms that the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister can serve.

In most states within Malaysia, the office was created by the British colonial government in 1948, in tandem with the creation of the Federation of Malaya. However, Johor was the first state to create the Menteri Besar position, subject to Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor (Johor State Constitution) enforced by Sultan Abu Bakar. This had made Johor the first Malay state to adopt a system of constitutional monarchy. After Malaya gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, the office bearer is appointed among the state legislative assembly members by the Sultans. The Menteri Besar and Chief Minister usually comes from the party (or coalition) which commands a majority in the state assembly.

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