After Sabah breakthrough, PAS eyes 4 seats in Sarawak polls

In Sarawak, PAS is planning to contest four seats in the upcoming state election, including Samariang, Sebuyau, and Beting Maro, following its recent success in winning a seat in the Sabah assembly. PAS chief Arifiriazul Paijo revealed that the state chapter has proposed this to the central leadership for approval, with three seats appearing almost certain subject to the top leadership's decision.

Candidates have been shortlisted, and the election machinery has been prepared. PAS made history in Sabah by winning the Karambunai seat in the Nov 29 polls, marking their first-ever elected seat in East Malaysia. In the 2021 Sarawak polls, PAS contested only one seat, Beting Maro, which was retained by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak with a significant majority.

Both Beting Maro and Sebuyau fall under the Batang Lupar federal constituency, while Samariang is in Petra Jaya. All three state seats have a majority Muslim-Bumiputera electorate. Arifiriazul noted that Samariang was one of the initial seats PAS targeted when they first entered Borneo in 2001, alongside Beting Maro. The party had fielded 11 candidates in the 2016 state polls but did not secure any seats. PAS currently has around 10,000 members in Sarawak, of which 1,000 are non-Muslim.