GPS ready for Sarawak polls regardless of redelineation outcome, says Abang Jo

KUCHING, Aug 10 — Sarawak's GPS party is prepared to participate in the state election, regardless of whether the proposed redelineation exercise increases the number of seats or not, according to its chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. The chairman emphasized that the number of seats to be contested would not cause any issues.

"We have no problem. If there are 82 seats, then 82 seats. If there are 99 seats, then 99 seats. We have no problem because it may not necessarily be 99 seats if there is insufficient time for its implementation," he stated during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Regency Specialist Hospital Kuching site. The primary focus, he added, was to ensure that the state election proceeds according to the rules and schedule, without being contingent on the redelineation exercise outcome.

In July 2024, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly had passed the State Legislative Assembly (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025, which added 17 new seats, raising the total to 99. Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly requested the Election Commission (EC) to compile an updated report on the proposed redelineation exercise to increase the number of Sarawak state seats.

The matter was discussed at a recent Cabinet meeting, with the Prime Minister expressing his commitment to implementing it. The Sarawak state government's term concludes in February 2027.