{
  "id": 20171361,
  "title": "PN may also opt out of Sarawak polls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/pn-may-also-opt-out-of-sarawak-polls-20171361",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T11:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/15/pn-may-also-opt-out-of-sarawak-polls"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Perikatan Nasional information chief Annuar Musa announced that the opposition coalition will soon decide whether to participate in the upcoming Sarawak state election scheduled for December 12. The Barisan Nasional party has stated they will not contest the polls. Annuar Musa noted that opting out of the election may be a possibility for PN. BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously mentioned that BN would not participate due to an understanding between Umno and the ruling coalition, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu. Umno, which has never established a state chapter in Sarawak, has generally respected the agreement to cede state and parliamentary seats to Sarawak-based parties. In October, PAS expressed its intention to contest Samariang, Sebuyau, and Beting Maro, all of which have a majority Muslim-Bumiputera electorate. PAS had previously contested the Sarawak seat of Beting Maro in 2021 but lost to the GPS.",
  "summary": "The coalition's information chief Annuar Musa says 'not contesting may be an option'.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sarawak polls: GPS to unveil 82 candidates on Nov 25",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/sarawak-polls-gps-to-unveil-82-candidates-on-nov-25",
        "published": "2026-11-15T05:54:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Seats, candidates, strategy — Sarawak DAP will decide, says Loke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/seats-candidates-strategy-sarawak-dap-will-decide-says-loke",
        "published": "2026-11-15T09:07:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Zahid confirms BN will sit out Sarawak polls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/zahid-confirms-bn-will-sit-out-sarawak-polls",
        "published": "2026-11-15T09:34:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}