The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 26 October, paving the way for the state’s 13th election, which must be held within 60 days under Article 21(4) of the state constitution.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the dissolution on 23 October after obtaining the consent of the Governor, Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. The assembly’s term would otherwise have expired in February 2027.
Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said on 27 October that the dissolution letter had been sent to Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun. He said the commission alone would decide the nomination and polling dates.
The election will be contested on the existing 82 seats, as the 17 additional constituencies approved last year will not be ready in time.
At the last state election in December 2021, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won 76 seats, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) four and DAP two. PSB has since been dissolved. Three of its former assemblymen joined the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a GPS component, while See Chee How (Batu Lintang) now sits as an independent.
GPS, chaired by Abang Johari, is made up of PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP. The state government will continue in a caretaker capacity until the polls.
Asfia, who has been Speaker since 2000 and is PBB’s permanent chairman, did not rule out contesting if his party fields him.