Malaysia’s Sarawak to hold state election on Dec 12

More than two million voters in Sarawak are due to vote in state elections on 12 December, the Election Commission announced. The poll will determine the make-up of Malaysia’s largest state assembly and comes as Sarawak seeks greater autonomy within the federation.

Nomination day is 28 November and early voting is 8 December; the assembly was dissolved on 26 October. The 82-seat legislature is currently dominated by Gabungan Parti Sarawak, which won 76 seats in 2021 and plans to contest all seats. The Democratic Action Party plans to contest seven seats, with a possible eighth, while the election follows setbacks for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition in other recent state polls.