Early assembly sitting not a sign of snap polls, says Karim

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the information chief of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), has refuted claims that the upcoming Sarawak state election is set to occur in November. The PBB leader clarified that the rumors surrounding the state legislative assembly sitting being moved to October are unfounded, as it is typically scheduled for November.

However, the assembly might be held in October following the 2027 federal budget announcement in Parliament, which is not unusual for Sarawak's legislative practices. Speaking to reporters after attending a Sukma diving event in Shah Alam, Karim emphasized that the decision to hold the state legislative assembly in October is entirely at the premier's discretion, Abang Johari Openg.

He further noted that any early sitting of the assembly could have various reasons behind it. Regarding the additional 17 seats voted for by the state legislative assembly, Karim acknowledged that holding the state election with this increased number could face certain constraints. The main hurdle is the time required for the delineation approval process, which is currently tight.

The Election Commission (EC) needs to display the proposed electoral boundaries, a task that could take at least three months. This timeline might not be sufficient for the next Sarawak election to be held using the 99 seats approved by the state legislative assembly in July last year, with the election deadline being mid-April 2027 at the latest.