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Kota Kinabalu: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly today passed a Bill to rename the Chief Minister's position as "Premier", according to a report.

Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah tabled and moved the Bill, which was passed after receiving support from 67 members of the House after a second round of voting by show of hands.

Before the Bill was passed, Abdul Karim reportedly said the renaming was to cement the different status enjoyed by Sarawak as compared to other states in the Federation of Malaya that formed Malaysia.

“Since the formation of Malaysia, there is no clear distinction made between Sarawak and other states to reflect this special status of Sarawak," he was quoted as saying.

“Sarawak has been given the same treatment of other states leading to the erosion of its rights which Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is trying to recover."

“This will be a strong reminder not only to the present generation of Sarawakians but to Malaysians at large."