THE country’s first and oldest legislature, the Sarawak legislative assembly, convened for a one-day special sitting today to mark its 150th year.

Formed during the rule of the Brooke “white rajahs”, the General Council of the Kingdom of Sarawak was convened on September 8, 1867 in Bintulu by Charles Vyner Brooke, the rajah muda under the orders of James Brooke, then rajah of Sarawak.

Its 21 members – five rajah English administrative officers and 16 Malay and Melanaus – were local tribe leaders who were thought to be capable of assisting the Brookes in administering Sarawak.

Their first task was to draw up the general guidelines on how the General Council should be conducted.

The council, however had no legal, judicial or executive powers but acted as a forum to exchange ideas and briefed on the policies and orders of the rajah.

The council convened for the second time in Sibu on June 15, 1868 before moving on to Kuching for the third sitting on October 11, 1870.

As Sarawak expanded and the rajah ruled over more land, leaders of natives from the Orang Ulu tribes, who are mostly found in Baram and the upper reaches of Sg Rajang, were added as the council in 1867.

Its composition later reflected the various races, ethnic tribe and religion of the state.

The General Council was renamed the Council Negeri in 1903.

Even after Sarawak was ceded to Britain as part of the British Empire in 1946, it remained as part of the state’s administration.

The Council Negeri did not meet during the years of the Japanese occupation during World War II.

As soon as the war ended, Charles Brooke, now the rajah convened the council in February 1946 to declare the state will be ceded to Britain as its crown colony.

Since 1963 and the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, members of the legislature have been elected representatives.

The Council Negeri, as it is still affectionately referred to, originally had 48 seats. That expanded to 56 in 1985, to 62 in 1985 and to 71 in 2005.

In 2014, it was increased to the current 82.

After the 1969 elections, all members of the legislature were elected members.

The Sarawak legislature is the biggest in terms of seats in the country.

In ceremonies to mark the special session, Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud inspected the guard-of-honour mounted by the 11th battalion of the Batu Kawa-based General Operations Force.

In addressing the assembly, Taib – who was the state’s fourth chief minister before stepping down in 2014 – said marking the 150th year is important for Sarawakians as it reminds them the legislature represents the sovereignty of the state.

“Marking this anniversary is our way of appreciating the contributions of all those leaders who had helped shaped the unique, contemporary legal framework of the state.”

Taib also expressed his confidence that the state could reach its targeted goal of being a developed state by 2030.

There were no debates in the special session. – January 30, 2018.