By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 26: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) was officially dissolved today, which will pave the way for the 13th Sarawak State Election.
Last Friday (Oct 23), Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced this in a special press conference after receiving the consent of Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said that under Article 21(4) of the Constitution, the State election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution.
Following the dissolution, the Election Commission (EC) will be formally notified to make the necessary arrangements for the election, including the nomination and polling dates and the election timetable.
Abang Johari said the State government would continue to discharge its responsibilities in a caretaker capacity during the election period, in accordance with the applicable constitutional requirements and conventions.
The upcoming election will determine the composition of the 13th Sarawak Legislative Assembly and the formation of the next State government.
In the 12th Sarawak election held on Dec 18, 2021, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won 76 of the 82 seats, securing a mandate to form the State government.
The coalition’s four component parties recorded the following results: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) won 47 seats, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) secured 13, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) won 11, and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) took five.
Outside GPS, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won four seats, while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) secured two.
Subsequent political developments changed the Assembly’s composition. Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How left PSB to become an independent, while three other former PSB assemblymen, namely Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh of Bawang Assan, Baru Bian of Ba’Kelalan, and Johnichal Rayong Ngipa of Engkilili, joined PDP.
The move increased PDP’s representation from five to eight seats and brought GPS’ total to 79 at that stage. — DayakDaily
