Sarawak Assembly to be dissolved

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said that he will be dissolving the Sarawak assembly on Monday, paving the way for the state election within 60 days.

Taib said that the notice of dissolution was sent to the governor Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng on Thursday.

“I have informed him about the state elections,” he told reporters at the Kuching International Airport in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said an order will be issued for speaker Asfia Awang Nasar to notify the Election Commission about the dissolution of the State Assembly.

“It is up to the commission to decide on the dates nomination and polling days, and make other necessary arrangement to hold the elections,” Taib, who is also the state BN chairman, said.

It is widely speculated that polling day will be on Saturday, April 16. However, the nomination day is unclear which will depend on the length of the campaign.

Under electoral laws, the Election Commission will determine the dates of both nomination and polling day.
Late this evening, the EC issued a statement saying that it will hold a special meeting on March 23 in Kuching to discuss the Sarawak election. A press conference will be held after the meeting.

It is expected that the duration of the campaign will be around eight days, as has been the case over the last few general elections.

Both Najib and Muhyiddin are leaving Kuching after a one-day visit to the state as part of their nationwide meet-the-people tour.

Najib and Muhyiddin, who arrived last night, attended a host of programmes with the people today.
The current term of the state assembly expires on July 23. The last state election was held on May 20, 2006.

Resignation possible in two years

Taib said it was possible that he would step down as chief minister midway in the next term of the state assembly, which means in about two years' time.

He was asked by journalists to elaborate on his speech in Serian this morning of his desire to quit his CM's post which he has been holding since 1981.

"It is possible (to step down by mid-term). I hope everyone is agreeable," said Taib, adding that he would defend his state seat of Balingian.

Meanwhile, Najib said he and Taib had reached an understanding that any transition in the chief ministership must be done smoothly and in an orderly manner.

“He (Taib) said he needs a little more time to ensure that whoever is his successor will make sure that the governing party will remain stable and strong, and that there will not be any political struggle that can cause instability in Sarawak,” he said.

“When the time comes, he will inform me on when he wants to step down,” he said.

Najib said he is confident that BN will win the election based on the warm public response in places he and Muhyiddin visited today.

“Our visits were well-received by the people,” he said.

While he is optimistic about BN's chances, Najib said BM must intensify its election machinery to ensure a thumping victory.

“This means we have to work hard and make the right decisions, especially on the choices of candidates. We will only pick winnable candidates for this election.”

One of Taib's toughest elections

The long-time chief minister is facing one of his toughest elections with the opposition expected to make his 30-year rule the focus of their electoral campaign.

In the May 2006 polls, the BN lost eight seats to the opposition. DAP garnered 6 and PKR 1, with one seat falling to an independent.

Political observers believe that Taib will lose more seats this time around.

While he is almost certain of retaining power, the all absorbing interest is on whether the BN will be able to hang on to its two-thirds majority.

The opposition will need to win an additional 17 seats to deny BN its much-coveted two-thirds majority, and it will be targetting marginal seats which BN won with less that 1,000-vote majority in 2006.

BN's loss in last May's by-election in Sibu, the first held in urban Sarawak after the 2008 general election, indicated that the stand of the urban voters had not changed since 2006.

DAP likely to double its haul of seats

Predominantly Chinese SUPP, which fared the worst among the BN component parties in the 2006 when it lost eight of the 19 seats it contested, is expected to again take a beating from its arch-rival , the DAP, in the battle for urban votes.

According to Universiti Teknologi Mara lecturer Shaharudin Badaruddin, DAP will be the biggest winner in the coming state election and is expected to add at least double its current haul to 12 seats.

At present the DAP holds sway in the state seats of Bukit Assek, Pending, Meradong, Batu Lintang, Kidurong and Kota Sentosa; PKR holds the Padungan state seat, while Ngemah is held by Parti Cinta Malaysia.

In addition to failing to retake the above seats, Shaharuddin said the opposition may also bring into its fold Repok, Dudong, Pelawan, Batu Kawah and Bawang Assam - all currently under the BN component party, SUPP.

Three Malay-majority seats - Beting Maro, Sadong Jaya and Saribas - won by the Taib-led party PBB with less than 1,000-vote majorities, may also fall to Pakatan, said Shaharuddin.