Sarawak state election set for Dec 12 as 82 seats go up for grabs

POLITICAL parties have until Dec 12 to secure the backing of more than two million Sarawak voters, with the Election Commission (EC) officially setting the date for the state's 13th election following the dissolution of the 82-seat state assembly.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said nomination day would be held on Nov 28, followed by early voting on Dec 8, while the election writ would be issued today.

He said the dates were finalised at a special EC meeting convened to coordinate preparations for the polls following the dissolution of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Oct 26.

"Applications for all categories of postal voting, both domestic and overseas, have been open since Oct 26," he said when announcing the election timetable in Kuching today.

The election will involve all 82 state constituencies, with 2,058,781 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.

The latest electoral roll, incorporating the September 2026 Supplementary Electoral Roll updated as of Oct 25, comprises 2,034,373 ordinary voters, 13,575 military personnel and their spouses, and 10,833 police personnel, General Operations Force members and their spouses.

To oversee the election, the EC has appointed 82 returning officers and 305 assistant returning officers across the state.

It has also established 82 election campaign enforcement teams comprising representatives from the Royal Malaysia Police, local authorities and contesting candidates to monitor campaigning activities.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly was formally dissolved on Oct 26 after Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the move on Oct 23, following the consent of Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Under Article 21(4) of the Sarawak State Constitution, an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution. The assembly's current mandate was due to expire in February 2027.

At the previous state election on Dec 18, 2021, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won 76 of the 82 seats, while Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) secured four and DAP two.

The political landscape has since changed following PSB's dissolution in 2024, which resulted in three former assemblymen joining Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP), a component party of GPS.

Another former PSB assemblyman, See Chee How, who represents Batu Lintang, left the party and became an independent.

GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and PDP. - November 6, 2026