Sarawak state election 2021
Sarawak's 12th state election was delayed by more than a year by a COVID-19 emergency proclamation, and when it finally ran on 18 December 2021 the governing Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition won 76 of the 82 seats.
what happened
Sarawak votes separately from the rest of Malaysia. Its state assembly runs on its own clock, and by 2021 that clock had been stopped: the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 suspended the assembly's dissolution, and a separate proclamation covering Sarawak alone ran from 2 August 2021 with an end date of 2 February 2022, on the stated ground that COVID-19 threatened security, economic life and public order. The Election Commission confirmed the state election was postponed. The block was lifted early: on 3 November 2021 the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to revoking the Sarawak proclamation, which under the Ordinance started a 60-day clock. Polling was set for 18 December 2021.
Eighty-two seats were at stake, the number fixed by the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Ordinance 2014, up from 71. The 2025 Ordinance later raised the statutory membership to 99, although the additional constituencies still required federal and Election Commission processes before they could be used for an election. Some 349 candidates stood, most of them in multi-cornered contests.
The outcome was one-sided. Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh put turnout at 60.67 per cent, with 759,627 ballots cast; ElectionData.MY records 1,252,014 registered voters. Gabungan Parti Sarawak won 76 of the 82 seats on about 61.3 per cent of the vote. Parti Sarawak Bersatu won 4 seats on roughly 18.7 per cent of the vote, and DAP, standing under Pakatan Harapan, won 2. Abang Johari Openg was sworn in again as Chief Minister.
Why the result was so lopsided is where accounts diverge, and each explanation belongs to the person making it. Arnold Puyok of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak points to development spending and a "Sarawak First" pitch drawing Dayak voters back to GPS. James Chin and other analysts quoted before polling emphasised instead that the opposition vote was split, with DAP, PKR, Amanah and PSB campaigning separately. Lee Poh Onn and Kevin Zhang of ISEAS stressed incumbency mechanics: GPS's helicopter and boat access to rural seats, control of village venues, and pandemic rules that limited physical campaigning. Analysts surveyed by the Jeffrey Cheah Institute had expected a comfortable GPS win but not one this large.
Two things followed that matter beyond Sarawak. Four days before polling, the Dewan Rakyat passed a Bill that later amended the Federal Constitution’s provisions on the States of the Federation, the definition of “the Federation” and Sarawak natives; the text does not expressly declare Malaysia to have three equal constituent entities. Then, on 15 February 2022, the Sarawak assembly amended the state constitution to rename the Chief Minister as Premier, effective 1 March 2022 — making Abang Johari the first holder of that title. Abang Johari has consistently framed these steps as restoring rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963; that framing is his and GPS's, and researchers disagree over how far Sarawak's and Sabah's autonomy paths actually run together. At the November 2022 federal election, GPS won 23 of Sarawak's 31 parliamentary seats, joined the unity government under Anwar Ibrahim, and Fadillah Yusof became a Deputy Prime Minister.
the working
What the sources say
established
The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly's term would ordinarily have ended in mid-2021, but paragraph 15(1)(a) of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 suspended its dissolution, so no state election was held on the normal schedule.
Analysis of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021 · Federal Government Gazette reported in Sarawak under Emergency until Feb 2
established
A separate Proclamation of Emergency covering Sarawak alone was made on 2 August 2021 and was to run until 2 February 2022, on the stated ground that COVID-19 threatened security, economic life and public order; it had the effect of preventing a state election in the 60 days after the nationwide Emergency lapsed.
Federal Government Gazette as reported by Borneo Post · PMO: Cabinet advised King on July 21 to extend emergency in Sarawak
established
The Election Commission publicly confirmed during 2021 that the Sarawak state election was postponed under the emergency.
EC: Sarawak state election postponed · Lexology analysis of the Sarawak Emergency Ordinance
established
On 3 November 2021 the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to revoking the Sarawak emergency proclamation, and under the Ordinance an election then had to be held within 60 days of the revocation.
Agong consents to lifting Sarawak Emergency Proclamation · Agong consents to end emergency in Sarawak · Sarawak CM notifies Election Commission on revocation of emergency
established
The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Ordinance 2014 set the number of elected members of the Sarawak assembly at 82, an increase from 71; 82 seats were contested in 2021.
Reporting on the 2025 Bill repealing the 2014 Ordinance · Sarawak tables Bill to grow state assembly from 82 to 99 seats · ElectionData.MY
established
The Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Ordinance 2025 raised the number of elected members from 82 to 99 and commenced on 8 August 2025. Its effect on the next state election still depended on the required federal and Election Commission processes to create and delineate the new constituencies.
established
Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh reported turnout of 60.67 per cent, with 759,627 of the registered voters casting ballots.
EC chairman quoted in Sarawak election: 60.67 pct voter turnout - EC · Sarawak election: 60.67% voter turnout — EC · 60.67% voter turnout at Sarawak election
established
ElectionData.MY records 1,252,014 registered voters and 759,627 votes cast, a turnout of 60.7 per cent.
established
The Election Commission reported 20,360 early voters, of whom 18,141 voted; Bernama reported 17,885 postal voters voting in the election.
established
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won 76 of the 82 seats; Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) won 4 and Pakatan Harapan (through DAP) won 2.
ElectionData.MY · EC-sourced results reported by Borneo Post · Bernama infographic
established
GPS took about 61.3 per cent of the popular vote (457,233 votes); PSB took roughly 18.7 per cent while winning 4 seats.
established
349 candidates contested the 82 seats, most in multi-cornered races.
established
Abang Johari Openg, who led GPS into the election as Chief Minister, was sworn in again after the result.
Abang Johari sworn in as Sarawak CM tonight · In Christmas message
established
On 15 February 2022 the Sarawak assembly passed the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022 with the support of 67 members, renaming the office of Chief Minister as Premier and "assistant minister" as "deputy minister".
Bill to replace chief minister with premier gets two-thirds support in Sarawak assembly · Abang Johari to be Malaysia's first 'premier' under proposed amendment to Sarawak constitution
established
The new title took effect on 1 March 2022, making Abang Johari the first Premier of Sarawak.
Sarawak CM known as Premier from Tuesday (March 1) · Abang Johari to be referred to as 'Premier of Sarawak' effective today
established
On 14 December 2021, four days before polling, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021. The resulting Act amended Article 1(2) to list the States of Malaya and the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak, amended the definition of “the Federation” in Article 160(2) by reference to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and amended Article 161A’s provision on Sarawak natives. It did not expressly declare three equal constituent entities.
established
At the November 2022 federal general election GPS won 23 of Sarawak's 31 parliamentary seats and joined the unity government formed under Anwar Ibrahim; GPS's Fadillah Yusof became a Deputy Prime Minister on 3 December 2022.
where accounts differ
The parts nobody agrees on
contested
Arnold Puyok (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) argues the Dayak swing back to GPS was driven by the coalition's development spending and its "Sarawak First" positioning, which in his reading resonated more than the opposition's appeals.
contested
James Chin and other analysts quoted before polling attributed GPS's confidence primarily to a split opposition vote rather than to a positive swing, noting DAP, PKR, Amanah and PSB contested separately.
Sarawak polls: Fractured opposition unlikely threat for GPS - analysts · Analysts: PSB is GPS's closest competitor
contested
Lee Poh Onn and Kevin Zhang (ISEAS) argued that incumbency advantages mattered materially: GPS's superior rural reach by helicopter and boat, control of village venues, and COVID-19 rules that restricted physical campaigning in a majority of seats.
uncertain
Analysts quoted by Malay Mail before polling characterised the election as an endorsement of GPS as a coalition rather than a referendum on Abang Johari personally; this reading of voter intent is an interpretation, not a measured finding.
Analyst: Sarawak election not a referendum on Abang Johari as CM
established
The margin itself exceeded pre-election expectations: analysts surveyed by the Jeffrey Cheah Institute forecast a comfortable GPS win but stopped short of predicting more than about 70 seats.
Analysts: GPS won't get all 82 seats but can be sure of handsome victory
alleged
Abang Johari has repeatedly framed the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as a legal covenant guaranteeing Sarawak's autonomy and special standing, and says GPS will pursue the return of state rights through legal processes. These are his characterisations of Sarawak's constitutional position, not settled findings.
Premier of Sarawak's office · Abang Jo: GPS will reinstate Sarawak's rights in MA63 according to legal processes
contested
Whether Sarawak and Sabah are following the same autonomy trajectory is disputed among researchers; an ISEAS study frames the two states as taking different paths with diverging outcomes.
alleged
A Sarawak GPS representative said in December 2022 that GPS could withdraw support for the federal unity government if the state's rights were challenged; this was one representative's statement, not a coalition decision.
Sarawak rep says GPS may withdraw support for unity govt if state's rights challenged
still being researched
- What was the seat-by-seat turnout spread between urban and rural constituencies, using a defined official urban–rural classification?