KUCHING: Speculation is growing that the Sarawak Legislative Assembly will be dissolved soon, paving the way for the next state election.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg is expected to make an announcement today, with the dissolution speculated to take effect next week.
This comes after the state legislature concluded the final sitting of its current term on Wednesday with the passing of the 2027 state budget.
“It’s getting very near. The Premier is keeping (it) tight. But I believe it could be next week,” a source said.
Another source indicated that everyone is on “standby” for the dissolution on Monday.
Political analyst Prof Dr James Chin from the University of Tasmania said it was clear that the dissolution would happen in the next few days.
“(Abang Johari) has to do it by next week if he wants to hold the election by the end of November or early December. That is probably the timeline he’s looking at,” he said.
Chin said the state election could not take place too close to Christmas or the New Year, while delaying the polls to early 2027 would coincide with Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 6.
“So the only time available is probably the end of November and the first half of December.
“It can’t be earlier than the middle of November because of the Melaka election,” he added.
Chin also said it was widely known that the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition would win the state polls by a landslide.
“Why is everybody getting excited? This is really a poll on how popular GPS is. Everyone knows GPS will win,” he said.
The Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s current term expires in February next year, after which an election must be held within 60 days.
In the last state polls on Dec 18, 2021, GPS swept to a massive victory with 76 of the 82 seats.
Its majority increased when three Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) assemblymen joined Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a GPS component party, following their party’s dissolution in 2024.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How quit PSB in 2022 to become a GPS-leaning Independent, effectively giving the ruling state coalition 80 of the 82 seats.
The remaining two seats are held by DAP.
An Election Commission redelineation exercise is underway to create 17 new state constituencies, but this will not be completed in time for the coming state polls.
