Sarawak polls slated for Dec 12

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Dec 12 as polling day for the Sarawak state election.

EC chairman Ramlan Harun said nominations would be held on Nov 28, with early voting on Dec 8.

The Sarawak legislative assembly was dissolved on Oct 26, paving the way for the state election.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won 76 of the 82 seats up for grabs at the last state election in December 2021. Then opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) secured four seats and DAP, two.

PSB assemblyman See Chee How (Batu Lintang) later left the party to become an independent and voiced support for premier Abang Johari Openg, who is also the GPS chairman.

The party subsequently dissolved, with its leaders and members joining the Progressive Democratic Party, a GPS component, en masse.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuching, Ramlan said 2,058,781 people were eligible to vote in the election, comprising 2,034,373 ordinary voters, 13,575 military personnel and their spouses, and 10,833 police personnel, General Operations Force personnel and their spouses.

He said the EC had appointed 82 election managers and 305 assistant election managers.

The EC will also set up 82 election campaign enforcement teams to monitor campaigning activities.

The teams will include representatives from the police, local authorities and candidates, Ramlan said.