Sarawak state election: GPS to contest all 82 seats - Abang Johari

The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has announced its intention to contest all 82 seats in the upcoming 13th Sarawak state election. The decision was made during a GPS meeting that included presidents from all four component parties. Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg, who serves as both GPS chairman and Sarawak Premier, affirmed that the coalition is ready for the election, though the exact date has not been announced by the Election Commission (EC).

Abang Johari stated that discussions will take into account the seats won in the previous election, and further talks will be held before the coalition finalizes its list of candidates. Some ministers from the component parties, including those from PBB, may step aside from contesting. The candidate list is expected to be finalized before the nomination day, pending the EC's announcement of the election dates.

In the previous 12th Sarawak state election, GPS won 76 seats, PSB secured four, and PH (through DAP) won two. After See Chee How left PSB to become an independent assemblyman, PDP, another GPS component party, was formed, adding three former PSB assemblymen to its ranks. Currently, GPS holds 79 seats, while See remains an independent who supports the government, alongside PH's two seats.

Together, the government bloc and its aligned representatives hold control of 80 of the 82 seats, with DAP maintaining the remaining two. A special meeting of the EC is scheduled for November 6th in Kuching to determine key dates for the 13th Sarawak state election.