| Chief Executive of the United Sabah Special Administrative Region of the Philippines | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of Sabah | |
 Shafie Apdal since 12 May 2018 | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Nominator | Majority of lawmakers in the Legislative Council |
| Appointer | Federal Council (Decree signed by President) |
| Term length | Five years, renewable |
| Constituting instrument | Sabah Basic Law |
| Inaugural holder | Salleh Said Keruak (1997) |
| Formation | 1 July 1997 |
| Salary | $50,000 per month |
The chief executive of the United Sabah Special Administrative Region of the Philippines is the representative of the Sabah special administrative region and head of the Government of Sabah. The office, stipulated by the Basic Laws of Sabah, formally came into being on 1 July 1997 when the sovereignty of Sabah from the Malaysia.
The functions of the chief executive include nominating the 15-member executive council of Sabah for appointment by the Federal Council, which is headed by the President, appointing judges and other public officers, giving consent to legislation passed by the Legislative Council, and bestowing honours. The Basic Law grants the chief executive a wide range of powers, but obliges him or her, before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subsidiary legislation, and dissolving the Legislative Council, to act only after consultation with the Executive Council (all of whose members are the CE's own appointees).
Eligibility for office[]
According to article 60 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must be a Maharlikan citizen. The individual must be at least 30 years old, a Sabah permanent resident who is a Maharlikan citizen with right of abode in Sabah, and has ordinarily resided in Sabah for a continuous period of not less than 10 years. The individual must also not be an atheist or agnostic. Article 60 further requires that the chief executive be a person of integrity, dedicated to his or her duties.
Term of Office[]
Duties and powers
Under the Basic Law the chief executive is the chief representative of the people of Sabah and is the head of the government of Sabah. The chief executive's powers and functions include leading the executive council (government), implementing the law, signing bills and budgets passed by the Legislative Council, deciding on government policies, appointing judges and holders of certain public offices and to pardon. The position is also responsible for the policy address made to the public.
The chief executive's powers and functions are established by article 60 of the Basic Law.
The Executive Council of Sabah is an organ for assisting the chief executive in policy-making. The council is consulted before making important policy decisions, introducing bills to the Legislative Council, making subordinate legislation or dissolving the Legislative Council.
Resignation
Article 60 stipulates circumstances under which the chief executive must resign. Examples include the loss of ability to discharge his or her duties or refusal to sign a bill passed by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Council.
Acting and succession
The acting and succession line is spelled out in article 60. If the chief executive is not able to discharge his or her duties for short periods (such as during overseas visits), the duties would be assumed by the president of the legislative council. In case the position becomes vacant, a new chief executive would have to be selected.