Local Government in Sarawak, 1963-1988: Democratic Local Government Won and then Lost‪?‬

This study is the second of a series examining all aspects of the governance, economy, and social services of Sarawak during its first twenty-five years as a state in Malaysia (1963-1988). (1) "Modern" local government in Sarawak may be said to be derived from the United Kingdom Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 that defined a Municipal Corporation as a "legal personification of the local community, represented by an elected council, and acting for, and responsible to, the inhabitants of the district." (2) By mid-1963, elected local councils had been established throughout Sarawak and had taken over a wide range of responsibilities, including primary, education. Part 1 of this study outlines changes to local authority rating systems between 1963 and 1988. Part 2 shows the responsibilities that were removed from Sarawak's local authorities during the 1963 to 1981 period, throughout which local authority members elected in 1963 held office, with only a few exceptions. (3) Part 3 covers events that led to no further elections of local authority members being held after 1963 (although this was laid down in the conditions under which Sarawak agreed to join Malaysia), and the change to members becoming government nominees. (4) Part 4 covers important changes between 1981-1988 when local authority members were government nominees. Historical Background