“There is nothing to dispute. The state assembly is the highest legislative body in Sarawak, just as Parliament is for Malaysia.

“What has been enacted and agreed in Parliament or in the state assembly must be accepted and respected,” he told FMT.

Earlier, state secretary Amar Jaul Samion said the title of Sarawak’s head of government would be “premier” instead of “chief minister”, effective today.

This follows the passing of amendments to the Sarawak constitution by the state assembly on Feb 15.

In addition, the “office of the chief minister” will now be known as the “office of the premier of Sarawak”.

Likewise, the “deputy chief minister” will be called “deputy premier” and “assistant minister” becomes “deputy minister”.

Commenting on this, Karim said no issues should arise in the definition or translation of the titles from one language to another.

The changes come days after the Federal Constitution was amended to re-establish Sarawak and Sabah as two of three equal partners in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

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