Sarawak to dissolve assembly on April 11 to pave way for elections

Sarawak's Chief Minister Adenan Satem (above) has announced that Governor Tun Taib Mahmud has agreed to dissolve the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. PHOTO: STAR PUB

KUCHING (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Sarawak Legislative Assembly will be dissolved on April 11 to pave way for the state elections.

Chief Minister Adenan Satem told reporters at a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia that he had met with Governor Tun Taib Mahmud on Thursday morning (March 31), and the governor agreed to dissolve the assembly.

The long-awaited announcement ends days of speculation on when the polls would be called. The chief minister had previously proposed that the state election be held on April 30, reported the Malay Mail.

Thursday's press conference was attended by leaders from Mr Adenan's Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Notably absent were those from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP).

SPDP is in a tussle for seats with BN splinter party Sarawak People's Energy Party (Teras), while SUPP is facing BN breakaway party UPP for the same seats.

The coming state election is seen by some observers as an important gauge for the BN federal government led by scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak. Analysts view the state elections - the only mid-term polls in Malaysia - as a reliable indicator of not only how largely rural Sarawak will vote in the next national polls, but also how the vote might trend across the country.

There will be 82 seats up for grabs, 11 more than the 2011 state election.

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