KUALA LUMPUR – The machinery for the 13th Sarawak State Election officially kicks into high gear today as the Election Commission (EC) convenes behind closed doors in the state capital to lock in the official roadmap for polling day.
EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun is presiding over the high-stakes special meeting at a local hotel here, with a full press briefing scheduled immediately after to reveal the election writ date, nomination day, polling day, the designated electoral roll, and broader operational logistics across the sprawling state.
The swift gathering follows Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement on Oct 23 that the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly had been dissolved effective Oct 26, catching many off guard and clearing the path for an early contest well ahead of the administration’s full mandate expiry in February 2027.
Under Article 21(4) of the Sarawak State Constitution, state elections must be concluded within 60 days of dissolution, giving the electoral body until late December to conduct polling across all 82 constituencies.
The early snap election marks a decisive strategic move by the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, which enters the race holding near-monolithic control of the state legislature. In the 12th state polls held on Dec 18, 2021, GPS—anchored by Abang Johari—steamrolled the field to capture 76 of 82 seats. The main opposition at the time, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), managed just four seats, while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) secured two.
Since then, the state’s opposition bench has effectively collapsed. Following PSB’s dissolution in 2024, three of its former assemblymen crossed into the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), an official component within the GPS ruling pact. Meanwhile, former PSB assemblyman See Chee How, who holds the urban seat of Batu Lintang, opted to sit as an independent.
GPS—comprising backbone party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and PDP—enters the 13th state election facing a fragmented, rebuilding opposition eager to test whether GPS’s tight grip can be challenged amidst shifting federal-state dynamics. – November 6, 2026