Next Sarawak state election could be called after November, after tabling of 2027 State Budget

It is safe to assume that the next Sarawak state election could be called after November this year or even early next year.

According to Speaker Asfia Awang Nasar, the current term of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) will  expire on Feb 20 next year.

So, there is no compelling reason to hold the election before November or even after Gawai Dayak celebration as some political pundits have suggested.

November is an important month. It is a budget month. This is the month when Premier Abang Johari Openg will table next year’s State Budget or call it Election Budget. It will not be an ordinary budget.

We expect him to make major juicy announcements that will make the rakyat- the voters - happy. More welfare benefits, more allocations for infrastructure projects for the rural people, increase spending and so on.

In other words, next year’s State Budget means bigger development and operating  allocations than what the previous budgets have offered.

We can expect the premier to touch on issues relating to Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Petros vs Petronas legal dispute over oil and gas rights and the demands for autonomy over health and education from the federal government.

These are enticing issues which are dear to the hearts of Sarawakians. In reality, these issues unite Sarawakians and we have to admit it, even the opposition parties agree.

Will the additional 17 new SLA seats be endorsed by Parliament and in time for the state election?

SLA passed amendments to the State Constitution that proposed to increase the number of seats from 82 to 99.

However, Parliament has yet to give its endorsement.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, the proposal was expected to be tabled in Parliament in July.

He said that discussions on the matter were on-going at the federal government level before it would be tabled for consideration by Parliament.

“Right now we are only discussing at the federal level and we aim for the proposal to add more seats to the Sarawak SLA to be tabled in July,” he told reporters on March 8.