Sarwwak State Election: Final list of candidates allocated to each component party to be known before nomination day, says GPS chairman

KUCHING, Oct 28 2026: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Abang Johari Openg said the seat allocations among the four component parties would be worked out by taking into account the current situation, including seats won by candidates from the respective parties in previous elections.

Caption: Premier and GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg arriving at PBB headquarters to chair the GPS leadership council meeting

He said the final list of candidates from each component party to contest on GPS's ticket would be announced before nomination day of the state election.

The thorny issue that GPS needs to iron out is the wrangling over three seats by SUPP and PDP. They have publicly staked claims to Engkilili, Bawang Assan and Bukit Assek state constituencies.

Engkilili and Bawang Assan seats were won by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in the 2021 state election. After PSB dissolved itself, Johnical Rayong (Engkilili) and Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan) joined Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component of GPS.

Both Rayong and Wong had won the seats when they were both in SUPP.

Bukit Assek was a traditional seat of SUPP, but in 2021 state election, it was contested and won by Tiong King Sing.

PDP may also be eyeing Batu Lintang which was won by See Chee How who stood on PSB's ticket in 2021. See left PSB before its dissolution.

Now, See has applied to join SUPP.

There is no dispute over Ba'Kelalan which was won by Baru Bian on PSB's ticket. He also joined PDP.

Baru has won Ba'Kelalan when he was in PKR.

Abang Johari said GPS will contest all the 82 state seats.

 “One thing I can announce is that GPS will contest all 82 seats. That is our decision.

“As for other matters, we are awaiting the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement regarding the election date; only then will we know the next steps to be taken,” he told reporters after chairing a GPS leadership council meeting at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here on Wednesday.

Out of the 82, it is almost confirmed that PBB will defend its 47 seats.

In the 12th State Election, GPS won 76 out of the 82 Sarawak State Legislative Assembly seats, with PBB securing 47 seats, SUPP 13, PRS 11, and PDP five.

The number of seats held by GPS subsequently rose to 79 in 2024 following the dissolution of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), as three former State Assembly members (ADUNs) from that party joined the PDP.