Sarawak state election, 2006

The ninth Sarawak state election was held on May 20, 2006 with nomination day on May 9. The election functioned to elect 71 representatives to the Sarawak State Assembly ("Dewan Undangan Negeri" in Malay). The eighth state assembly was dissolved by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng by the advice of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, on April 24, 2006.

On nomination day, Barisan Nasional won two seats without contest. This election saw 892,537 voters eligible to cast their ballots. [ [http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=198599 Polling In Sarawak State Election Completed] . (May 20, 2006). "BERNAMA".]

The previous state election was held in 2001, when the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) won 60 out of 62 seats in the eighth state assembly. The Democratic Action Party won one, while another went to an independent candidate. The eighth state assembly's mandate would expire on November 18 2006, necessitating the calling of an election beforehand. [" [http://webevents.bernama.com/prsrwk/lbpeng.php Background of Sarawak politics] ". BERNAMA. URL accessed on May 20, 2006]

The opposition parties

People's Justice Party (PKR), Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) teamed up to form the Sarawak United Front ( _ms. Barisan Bersatu Sarawak). MDC, being one of the two parties splited from the deregistered Sarawak Dayak People's Party, was newly formed and awaiting for registration approval. So they have to contest under the SNAP ticket.

Although Democratic Action Party and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party did not join the coalition, they and the coalition managed to negotiate over the contesting seats so that they could challenge BN one-to-one. Another Sarawak local opposition party, the State Reform Party (STAR), failed the negotiation and decided not to contest in the election.

Results

Out of 71 seats, only 69 seats saw contests between various candidates. Two seats - namely Daro and Dalat - were won by candidates from Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, a component party in Barisan Nasional.

ummary

¹Including candidates from Malaysian Dayak Congress which was awaiting for registration approval.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://202.190.126.58/ Malaysian Election Commission] Official result of the election.
* [http://webevents.bernama.com/prsrwk/keputusanbi.php BERNAMA] More result.