Sarawak DAP eyes 18 seats if the new electoral map is used in next state polls

BINTULU, Oct 26 2025: Sarawak DAP will contest 18 seats in the  upcoming Sarawak state election provided that the new electoral map is used,  its chairman Chong Chieng Jen has said.

Chong Chieng Jen: The Sarawak DAP will not battle to change the state government in the coming state election
 

However, he said the party will contest 15 seats if the current number remains at 82 when the state election is called.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) passed amendments to the State Constitution last year to increase the number of state seats from 82 to 99.

The Election Commission (EC), however, has yet to finalise the delineation exercise  of the state constituencies and if the new electoral map will be ready when the election is called either at the end of 2026 or early 2027.

The last state election was held on December 18, 2021.

Chong, who is also Padungan Sarawak Legislative Member (SLM), said he wants to make it clear that the coming state election will not be a battle for a change of government.  

“This shall be a battle for a stronger check and balance in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA), a battle for a stronger voice of the people of Sarawak and a battle for more accountability on the part of the government,” he said at the party’s annual convention here.

“All said, the necessary check and balance and the alternative voices of the people will not be heard and respected if we only have two at present in the 82-member assembly.  

“We and the people of Sarawak need more Opposition SLMs,” he said.

He expressed his hope that at the next convention, the party will have more SLMs after the state election.

Chong, who is also Stampin MP, stressed that the party’s struggle is based upon a strong belief that for any healthy democracy to operate, there must be a strong opposition and any government, without the existence of opposition, will inevitably become a tyranny.

He said Sarawak needs a strong Opposition to keep the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in check, adding that there are many who claim to be Opposition parties, but they either had never won any seat in elections or after winning some seats, joined the state government.

“All these years, the party remains the lone and consistent Opposition voice in the Sarawak but we never back away.

“Whenever someone is oppressed or bullied by the system or the government and its agencies, invariably it is the DAP who steps forward speaking up for and defending the oppressed and helping to resolve their problems,” he added.