The Chief Minister of Malacca (Malay: Ketua Menteri Melaka) is the head of government in the Malaysian state of Malacca. According to convention, the chief minister is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly. The position has been held by Ab Rauf Yusoh since 31 March 2023.
According to the state constitution, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca appoints the chief finister to preside over the Executive Council and requires the chief minister to be a member of the Legislative Assembly who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly and must be a Malaysian citizen by naturalization or by registration. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri on the chief minister's advice can appoint no more than ten nor less than four members from among the members of the Legislative Assembly.
The member of the Executive Council must take and subscribe the oath of office and allegiance in the presence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri as well as the oath of secrecy before they can exercise the functions of office. The Executive Council is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. The members of the Executive Council can not hold any office of profit and engage in any trade, business or profession that would cause conflict of interest.
If a government cannot get its appropriation (budget) legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly, or the Legislative Assembly passes a vote of "no confidence" in the government, the chief minister is bound by convention to resign immediately. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri's choice of replacement chief minister will be dictated by the circumstances. A member of the Executive Council other than the chief minister can not hold office during the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, unless the appointment of any member of the Executive Council has been revoked by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri on the advice of the chief minister but may at any time resign his office.
Following a resignation in other circumstances, defeat in an election, or the death of a chief minister, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri will generally appoint the person voted by the governing party as their new leader to the position of chief minister.
The power of the chief minister is subject to several limitations. Chief ministers removed as leader of their party, or whose government loses a vote of no confidence in the Legislative Assembly, must advise a state election to resign the office, or be dismissed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri. The defeat of a supply bill (one that concerns the spending of money) or unable to pass important policy-related legislation is seen to require the resignation of the government or dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, much like a non-confidence vote, since a government that cannot spend money is hamstrung, also called loss of supply.
The chief minister's party will normally have a majority in the Legislative Assembly and party discipline is exceptionally strong in Malaccan politics, so passage of the government's legislation through the Legislative Assembly is mostly a formality.
The Legislative Assembly continues for five years from the date of its first meeting unless dissolved by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri sooner. The state constitution permits a delay of 60 days of general election to be held from the date of dissolution and the Legislative Assembly to be summoned to meet on a date not later than 120 days from the date of dissolution. Conventionally, between the dissolution of one legislative assembly and the convening of the next, the chief minister and the executive council remain in office in a caretaker capacity.
The following is the list of chief ministers of Malacca since 1957:[1][2][3]
Colour key (for political parties):
Alliance / BN PH