Sarawak Assembly dissolution notification sent to EC, says Speaker

Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said he had received the declaration of the dissolution of the state assemby, signed by Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Friday (Oct 23). — The Borneo Post pic

First Published: Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 2:11 PM MYT

KUCHING, Oct 27 — A notification letter on the dissolution of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly has been sent to the Election Commission (EC) today, said Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.

He said he had received the declaration of the dissolution of the state assemby, signed by Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Friday (Oct 23)

“The declaration of dissolution is also in accordance with Article 21(2) of the State Constitution, which empowers the Governor of Sarawak to dissolve the state assembly.

“As such, I have informed EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun of the matter through a letter dated today,” he told a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly building today.

On Oct 23, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved on Monday (Oct 26), paving the way for the 13th state election.

Abang Johari, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, said that during this period, the state government will discharge its responsibilities in a caretaker capacity, observing the applicable constitutional requirements and conventions.

The current term of the 82-seat Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is due to expire in February 2027.

GPS won 76 of the 82 seats contested in the 12th Sarawak State Election on Dec 18, 2021, while Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) took four seats and DAP secured two.

The state’s political landscape changed after PSB was dissolved in 2024, when three of its former state assemblymen joined the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component party of GPS.

Another former PSB assemblyman, See Chee How, who represents Batu Lintang, subsequently left the party to sit as an Independent.

GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and PDP. — Bernama