A copy of the proposed amendment was posted by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii today. The bill also proposes to amend Article 7A, by which assistant ministers will be known as deputy ministers.

Sarawak’s tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told FMT he will table the bill on Tuesday. However, he would not comment on the significance of the change, saying all would be explained at the state assembly.

The amendments are scheduled to go through all three readings on Tuesday.

The proposed change comes days after the Federal Constitution was amended to re-establish Sarawak and Sabah as one of three equal partners in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

The change from “chief minister” to “premier” reasserts Sarawak’s status as a self-governing territory.

The term “premier” was first used in Malaysia for Singapore’s head of government, Lee Kuan Yew, when the island was an autonomous state in Malaysia from 1963 to 1966. He was already prime minister of the island, which achieved full self-government in 1959, but was known as the “premier” of Singapore while in Malaysia.

“Premier” is also the title of the heads of government of Australia’s states and of Canada’s provinces and territories.