The Sarawak assembly is expected to be dissolved in November, two weeks after Sarawak Budget 2027 is passed, with polls to be held within 60 days of dissolution.
KUCHING: The Sarawak state election is likely to be held in December before the current term of the State Legislative Assembly ends in February next year, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Abdul Karim, who is also Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, said that although Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had yet to announce the date for the dissolution of the state assembly, December would mark five years since the last state election was held, on Dec 18, 2021.
He said that under the law, a state election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the state assembly.
“I look at it that way. Even if he (Abang Johari) calls it at the end of this month or in November, it has to be held in December. But December is usually the year-end period, and with Christmas, people take leave, so it has to be around that time.
“That is why some people say it could be until February, while others say December. But I would go with December because that marks the end of the five-year term,” he told a press conference after the DayakDaily Writing Competition Awards ceremony, here, today.
Abdul Karim said the time frame for holding the state election was narrowing, and the Election Commission (EC) needed to take the festive calendar into account before setting the polling date.
“When the EC decides on the date, it has to take these factors into account. It has to consider that Chinese New Year falls in January. After that, in February, we have Ramadan, so it is just not possible to hold the election in January or February,” he said.
Abdul Karim was previously reported as saying that the Sarawak state assembly was expected to be dissolved in November, or two weeks after the Sarawak Budget 2027 is passed.