Sarawak State Election: PKR Hulu Rajang branch to field candidate in Murum constituency, says its chairman

MIRI, Oct 26 2026: PKR Hulu Rajang branch has decided to field a candidate in Murum constituency in the coming stat election, its chairman Senator Abun Sui Anyit in a statement today.

Caption: Senator Abun Sui says discussions are on-going to finalise decision on Belaga and Baleh

He said the decision was decided at the branch committee meeting two days ago to field the candidate to contest in Murum under PKR banner.

Abun Sui said the branch's decision will be communicated to the party's leadership as soon as possible.

"Meanwhile, negotiations regarding the Belaga and Baleh state seats are currently underway and have yet to be finalized," he said in his statement posted on Facebook.

"Candidates for these two constituencies will be determined in the near future and subsequently presented to the party leadership," he added.

hHe said the mission of PKR Hulu Rajang branch extends beyond merely contesting or winning electoral seats; it is about ensuring that the rights of the people are protected, community issues are resolved, and development is implemented equitably.

"The issue of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land remains a top priority. There are still longhouse communities that have yet to receive land titles, despite having occupied, cultivated, and inherited these lands for generations. 

"PKR Hulu Rajang branch will continue to champion a transparent, efficient, and fair process encompassing the resolution of land disputes, respect for customary practices, and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affect their rights," he said.

He pledged that if PKR candidates are given the mandate by the people, land disputes will be brought before the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for debate and advocacy, with the aim of securing a fair resolution.

He said branch will voice the concerns of oil palm smallholders in Murum and insist that all disputes be resolved in a transparent, fair, and lawful manner—without infringing upon the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the Belaga District.

"Customary land must be protected. Smallholders must be supported. Disputes between the people and corporations must be resolved fairly. Development in rural areas must be accelerated. The rights of the people must remain the top priority," he said.

Sarawak State Election: PBB and GPS stand ready to contest, says PBB Youth deputy chief

KUCHING, Oct 26 2026: PBB Youth deputy chief Lukanisman Awang Sauni stressed that PBB and GPS, having long contributed to Sarawak’s political stability and fostered robust development for the future,  stand fully prepared, ready to contest the coming state election and, should the mandate be renewed, to continue playing a vital role in the state’s administration and development.

Caption: PBB Youth deputy chief Lukanisman  Awang Sauni expresses confidence that GPS possesses the optimal approach, through sound policies and strategies, to pave the best path forward for the people of Sarawak

"However, we remain mindful that the people’s trust cannot be taken for granted; it must be continuously earned through performance, integrity, and the capacity to fulfill the aspirations of the community," he said in a statement posted on his Facebook today.

He said in politics, history provides the foundation, performance builds confidence, and vision shapes the future.

"Therefore, I am confident that GPS possesses the optimal approach, through sound policies and strategies, to pave the best path forward for the people of Sarawak," he said.

Lukanisman, who is also the Deputy Foreign Minister, said as the PBB Youth deputy chief, viewed the 13th state election as a crucial opportunity to highlight the aspirations of Sarawak’s new generation. 

He sad today’s youth seek quality employment opportunities, a more competitive economy, broader access to education, and inclusive development that bridges the gap between urban and rural areas.

On the seat allocation among the GPS component parties, he said any decision remains subject to the deliberation and official ruling of the GPS top leadership.

"We respect the established process and have no intention of pre-empting any official announcements," he said.

"Should PBB provide opportunities for new faces from the Youth wing, I can affirm that our Youth members are currently at an optimal level of readiness," he said.

He added the strength of the PBB Youth movement should not be measured solely by the number of seats held, but also by its capacity to translate the people's mandate into tangible changes that improve their daily lives.

He said the people should be given the space to evaluate each party and candidate in a mature manner based on their track records, proposed policies, and commitment to the interests of the state.

"Ultimately, the future of Sarawak is a collective responsibility,"he said, adding that PBB Youth will continue to focus on developing the next generation of leaders and fostering the participation of young people in the democratic process and the state’s development. 

Sarawak State Election: Nominate more women as candidates, political parties urged

KUCHING, Oct 26 2026: Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has called on political parties to nominate more women as candidates in the coming Sarawak state election.

Caption: Social activist Voon Shiak Ni notes that in the general election in 2022  only 13.4 per cent of the total number of candidates were women while in the Sarawak state election in 2021, only 12.9 per cent were women given the chance to run for election . 

She said the continuous calls by women non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the 30 per cent quota for women as election candidates have not been given due attention by political parties in the past. 

"The target of 30 per cent women representation in politics can never be achieved if there is no commitment to materialise the numbers," she said in statement today.

"This under representation is a clear indication that more needs to be done to open the doors of political participation to women," Voon, a former state PKR women leader, stressed.

She noted that in the general election in 2022  only 13.4 per cent of the total number of candidates were women while in the Sarawak state election in 2021, only 12.9 per cent were women given the chance to run for election . 

"There is no political party which has managed to nominate at least 30 per cent women, signifying that the gap already exists before polling day.

"Around the world, we can see women elected as prime ministers for their countries, such as Japan and New Zealand," Voon said.

She hoped that for the  upcoming Sarawak state election, political parties should try to move away from a heavily male-dominated candidate selection system or practice . 

She added Sarawak is a progressive state with progressive leaders and good governance, and letting women to have the opportunities to run for election is a progressive politics . 

Voon said women must not be sidelined in politics, adding that they have the competence, experience and leadership qualities to contribute meaningfully to policymaking and the development of Sarawak.

"Political parties should move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to identify, nurture and nominate more capable women candidates in winnable constituencies.

"A more inclusive political landscape will bring broader perspectives, more balanced decision-making and stronger representation of the people’s interests.

"Give women a fair chance to contest, lead and serve. Sarawak cannot afford to leave half of its talent pool underrepresented in the political arena," Voon stressed, adding that that it is high time for meaningful change .

"Yes , women voters are always  proud to see their women race joining the fray running for election," she added.

Sarawak State Election: The countdown begins after the State Legislative Assembly is officially dissolved today

The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (SLA) is officially dissolved today to pave the way for the 13th state election. 

The dissolution, announced by Premier Abang Johari Openg on Oct 23, is four months ahead of the expiry date of the 18th SLA on February 14 next year.

Up for grabs are the 82 state seats. 

In the previous SLA, Gabungan Parti Sarawak held 8o seats while the sole opposition, Sarawak DAP, held two seats.

On Dec 18 2021 state election, GPS, led by Abang Johari, won 77 seats. But after Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) dissolved itself, its three SLMs joined Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), one of the four component parties of GPS. However, See Chee How who won in Batu Lintang opted to leave PSB before it was dissolved.

With the additional three seats, GPS's total SLMs jumped to 80.

It will be the second time for Abang Johari to lead GPS into the state polls.

As for the state DAP, its total number of SLMs was reduced to two in the 2021 state election. In the 2016 state election, the party won in seven seats.

State DAP's two partners, PKR and Amanah, were completely wiped out.

It is safe to assume that among the four parties of GPS, PBB is expected to retain all its 47 seats in the coming state election. Its grassroots support is solid and the ground machinery is very  well organised. The party is expected to field new faces as its candidates. Three of its incumbent SLMs have indicated that they would prefer to sit out in the state election.

However, the final decision still lies with the party leadership. 

The current Kapit Member of Parliament Alexander Nanta Linggi has expressed his wish to contest a seat within the Kapit parliamentary constituency. He had confessed that he would not want to defend his parliamentary seat in the general election. There are three state seats within the Kapit parliamentary constituency.

So, which of the three seats he will contest? Obviously, Pelagus is out since it belongs to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). Will be fielded in Katibas or Bukit Goram? 

On the surface, PRS may face tough challenges in one or two seats, unless it has fully recovered from its party election held a year ago.

Otherwise, PRS, under John Sikie Tayai as its new president, will have no problem in retaining all its 11 SLA seats.

There are problems between Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and PDP over four seats - Engkilili, Bawang Assan, Batu Lintang and Bukit Assek.

Engkilili, Bawang Assan and Batu Lintang were won by PSB in 2021. After PSB was dissolved,  Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan) and Johnical Rayong (Engkilili) joined PDP. See Chee How (Batu Lintang) elected to become an independent SLM.   Bukit Assek, on the other hand, was won by PDP in the same election.

SUPP has insisted that these four seats are its traditional seats and says it has the right to nominate candidates in these four seats.

PDP is adamant, saying that these four seats now theirs to keep.

The quarrel over these four seats could spread to other constituencies. When that happens, GPS may lose some seats to the Opposition, especially the DAP.

This is because the DAP's presence in Batu Lintang and Bukit Assek has remained strong. 

Political pundits do not give much hope to Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi). For one thing, pundits say, these two parties lack financial resoures and another, the people do not think much of them.

Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) is also not expected to win any seat. It has indicated that it wants to contest in 37 Dayak-majority constituencies. Sometimes dreams may not necessarily become reality. It remains so.

At this moment, there are no signs that all the local parties are talking of forming an election alliance. It will be better for them to form an opposition coalition to face GPS in the election.

Maybe, it is still too early for them to think and talk about forming an opposition pack since the nomination and polling dates for the state election have not fixed yet.

State PKR, Amanah and PAS have also indicated they want to contest in the state election.

In the old days, Sarawak PKR used to have three state SLA seats when it was under Baru Bian as chairman. But after he left, the state PKR was reduced to an insignificant party. It has yet to recover.

We do not see much hope in Amanah and PAS to win any seat in the coming state election. These two Malayan-based parties have not won any single state or parliamentary seat in Sarawak's election history.
Political pundits believe that they will be going home with an empty hand in the coming state election.

Sarawak State Election: Sarawak Kita Empun programme bolsters readiness of PBB machineries in Lingga, Bukit Begunan and Simanggang constituencies

SIMANGGANG, Oct 26 2026: The Sarawak Kita Empun (Sarawak Is Ours) programme and election preparations have served as a platform to bolster the readiness of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) machinery for the upcoming Sarawak state election.

Caption: PBB vice president Dr Annuar Rapaee being welcomed on arrival for the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Kita Empun programme

Organised by the PBB N.28 Lingga branch, in collaboration with the PBB N.31 Bukit Begunan and N.32 Simanggang branches, the programme featured several sessions focused on election preparations and the strengthening of the party's machinery.

Among the highlights was a talk titled "Election Preparations and the Roles and Responsibilities of PACA (Polling Agents, Counting Agents, and A-Agents)," delivered by PBB executive Secretary Takun Sunggah.

The programme also included a session on the initiatives of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), presented by PBB Supreme Council Deputy Treasurer Natasha Douglas, as well as a talk on the structure and functions of the 'Sarawak Kita Empun' (SKU) machinery, delivered by PBB Supreme Council member Sulhie Salleh.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and PBB Vice President Dr Annuar Rapaee yesterday.

In his address, Dr. Annuar emphasised the vital role of the grassroots as the primary pillar in securing a victory for GPS in the election.

He also urged the people of Sarawak to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the state government, particularly in the fields of education and the pursuit of higher studies at state-owned tertiary institutions.

State Legislative Member (SLM) fpr Lingga Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor expressed her hope that all attendees would continue to uphold a spirit of unity and a willingness to make sacrifices for the future of Sarawak. 

She also urged the entire party machinery to remain on high alert and work hand-in-hand in preparation for the upcoming state election.