Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the Head of State for Sabah. He is elected by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong after receiving advice from the Chief Minister of Sabah.
Under the State Constitution, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri is elected for a period of four years.
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri uses his executive power according to the State Constitution and makes desicions based on the advice from the Cabinet or the Chief Minister. However, he may also act on his own discretion in performing the following functions:
- Electing of the Chief Minister
- Postponing of request to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly
An agreement by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri is needed on all laws and regulations approved by the State Legislative Assembly.
The present Yang di-Pertua Negeri is Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Haji Mahiruddin. He is the 10th Yang di-Pertua Negeri and was elected on 1 January 2011.
List of Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Since Independence
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
16 September 1963 - 1965 |
Tun Datu Haji Mustafa bin Datu Harun |
16 September 1965 - 1973 |
Tun Pengiran Haji Ahmad Raffae |
16 September 1973 - 1975 |
Tun Haji Mohd. Fuad Stephens |
1975 - 1978 |
Tun Mohd. Hamdan (formerly Datuk Indan Kari) |
26 June 1978 - 1979 |
Tun Ahmad Koroh |
27 June 1979 - 1987 |
Tun Datuk Mohamad Adnan Robert |
1987 - 1994 |
Tun Mohd. Said bin Keruak |
01 January 1995 - 31/12/2002 |
Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Sakaran bin Dandai |
01 Janurary 2003 - 31/12/2010 |
Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah |
01 January 2011 - present |
Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Haji Mahiruddin |