- Menteri Besar
Literally, "big minister" in Malay, a Menteri Besar is a Chief Executive of the state governments of
Perlis ,Johor ,Kedah ,Perak ,Selangor ,Negeri Sembilan ,Pahang ,Terengganu andKelantan inMalaysia —that is, all states with royal rulers. In others states without a monarch, the title Ketua Menteri (Chief Minister ) is used. "Menteri Besar" is is often untranslated in the local English press.In most states within Malaysia, the office was created by the British colonial government in
1948 , in tandem with the creation of theFederation of Malaya . However, it wasJohor which became the first state to create the "Menteri Besar" position as subject to "Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor " (Johor State Establishment Constitution) enforced by Sultan Abu Bakar which made Johor the first Malay state to adopt theconstitutional monarchy system. After the country achieved independence from theUnited Kingdom in1957 , the office became elective, with the leader of the biggest party in the state legislative assemblies assuming that post.
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