By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 16: The 13th Sarawak State Election (PRN13) could be brought forward and held as early as next year even though the current legislative term does not expire until 2027, says Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information Chief Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He explained that the State Assembly can be dissolved at any time within its five-year mandate and elections are usually not left until the very end of the tenure.
“An election can be held even one year after the last one because the tenure for State assembly and Parliament is five years, and they can be dissolved at any time within that period.
“Normally it will be held about four years or four years plus after the last election. So yes, there is a possibility it can be next year,” he told reporters during a doorstep interview after officiating the DayakDaily’s ‘Homestay Odyssey’ Writing Competition Awards Ceremony held at Waterfront Hotel here today.
Abdul Karim, however, stressed that only Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg would know the exact timing of the polls.
He explained that an election would also be triggered if there was a vote of no confidence against the Premier, although he stressed that such a scenario is very unlikely.
“If there is no vote of no confidence, then the State Assembly will continue until the end of its five-year term,” he added.
Sarawak’s 12th State election was held on Dec 18, 2021, electing 82 assembly members. The first sitting of the 19th State Legislative Assembly took place on Feb 14, 2022, which marked the beginning of the current five-year term.
Under the Sarawak Constitution, the Assembly must be dissolved within five years, and elections must be held within 60 days thereafter.
This means the State election must take place by April 2027 at the latest.
In exceptional cases such as the Covid-19 outbreak emergency in 2021, when the 12th Sarawak Election was postponed until December 2021 after the State Assembly term ended on June 6, the timeline can be extended until August 2027. However, such extensions are rare as the provision is already enshrined in the constitution.
This means that while the current mandate will only end in 2027, the Sarawak election could realistically be called in late 2025 or anytime in 2026.
Abdul Karim who is the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, also spoke on the 17 new State seats which were endorsed by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
He said it is still too early to speculate where the new constituencies will be located as the Election Commission (EC) has not yet published the delineation proposals for public feedback.
However, he believes there is enough time for the constituencies to be in place before the next State election.
“What has been endorsed by the State Assembly will also need to be brought to Parliament. We are still in 2025 and 2026. If they want to do it, they can,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that PBB and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are ready to face the polls at any time, including in the new constituencies.
“Presently the good feeling in Sarawak is there. Whether you are Chinese, Dayak or Malay, there is pride in what the State has achieved.
“So it is the right time to have an election. I can see it from that angle,” he emphasised. – DayakDaily
