Sarawak election countdown begins with assembly dissolution today, EC meeting next

On October 26, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly officially dissolved, setting the stage for the upcoming 13th Sarawak State Election. Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the dissolution on Friday, October 23, after receiving approval from Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. According to Article 21(4) of the State Constitution, the state election must occur within 60 days of the assembly's dissolution.

As the Election Commission (EC) prepares to determine the election date, EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus stated that the commission will schedule a special meeting to discuss key election dates once they receive formal notification from the Speaker of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly.

Sarawak's current government, led by Abang Johari, who also serves as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, assured that it will continue to carry out its duties as a caretaker government, adhering to all constitutional requirements and conventions. He emphasized that public administration and essential services will remain in place to safeguard the needs and welfare of the people.

The 82-member Sarawak State Legislative Assembly's term is set to end in February 2027. In the 12th Sarawak State Election held on December 18, 2021, GPS secured 76 seats, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won four seats, and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) took two seats. The political landscape underwent a change following PSB's dissolution in 2024, with three of its former state assemblymen joining the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a GPS component party.

One former PSB assemblyman, See Chee How, represented Batu Lintang and subsequently left the party to become an Independent. GPS consists of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and PDP.