SARAWAK Premier, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, today announced that the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly will be dissolved on Monday, October 26, 2026, paving the way for the 13th state election.
He made the announcement at the Satria Pertiwi Complex in Kuching.
He had earlier called upon the Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, to seek consent for the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly.
"As we approach the completion of the term, it's only appropriate that we obtain a new mandate from the people.
"To ensure the continued progress of the people in Sarawak, they must have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to elect a fresh government," he said.
Speculation regarding the date had been circulating even before the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting, which took place from October 12 to 21.
It is understood that relevant parties, most notably the security forces and the Election Commission (EC), have already been informed of the matter.
The Sarawak DUN currently has 82 seats, making it the largest state legislative assembly in the country.
There will be no increase in the number of seats for this election, as the 17 additional seats approved during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting in 2025 are currently undergoing a redelineation review.
This process is expected to take a year, meaning the new seats will not be ready for implementation in time.
The previous Sarawak state election was held on December 18, 2021, during which GPS won 76 out of the 82 contested seats.
As of the conclusion of the recent State Legislative Assembly sitting, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), held 80 seats.
This follows the dissolution of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which had four elected representatives; its members were absorbed en bloc into the PDP in 2025.
Another of its elected representatives, the State Assemblyman for Batu Lintang, See Chee How, had previously announced his departure from the party to serve as an independent representative, though he remains friendly toward GPS.
The election is expected to be a significant test of GPS's mandate under Abang Johari, who has led Sarawak since Jan 13, 2017.
He was appointed the state's sixth chief minister following the death of his predecessor, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, on Jan 11, 2017. – October 23, 2026
