Sarawak State Assembly To Dissolve On October 26 To Pave Way For 13th State Election

KUCHING, Oct 23 – The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly will be officially dissolved on Monday, October 26, 2026, paving the way for the 13th Sarawak State Election.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg made the formal announcement during a special press conference at the Satria Pertiwi Complex in Kuching on Friday afternoon, October 23.

Abang Johari confirmed that Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar granted royal consent for the dissolution in accordance with Article 21(2) of the Constitution of the State of Sarawak.

Under Article 21(4) of the state constitution, fresh state elections must be conducted within 60 days from the date of official dissolution. The Election Commission (EC) will be formally notified to fix the nomination, early voting, and polling dates.

The current five-year mandate of the 82-seat state assembly was originally due to expire in February 2027.

Political Realignment, Seat Dynamics, and GPS Leadership

Key structural developments, coalition composition, and seat distributions shaping the upcoming polls include:

• Landslide Mandate in 2021: In the preceding 12th Sarawak State Election held on December 18, 2021, the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition achieved a decisive victory, winning 76 of the 82 seats. Opposition parties Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won four seats, while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) secured two.
• Dissolution of PSB: Following PSB’s formal dissolution in 2024, three of its elected state assemblymen joined the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)—a component party of GPS—while the fourth elected member became an independent.
• GPS Coalition Strength: The ruling GPS coalition comprises four component parties: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
• Caretaker Government Administration: Abang Johari emphasized that the current state administration will function in a caretaker capacity throughout the election period in strict compliance with constitutional conventions.

–NMT