Speculation mounts over Premier Abang Johari Openg's possible early dissolution of Sarawak assembly

Talk of an early dissolution of the Sarawak state assembly has intensified after Premier Abang Johari Openg was expected to make a major announcement on Friday. While the assembly is set to dissolve automatically in December if no earlier action is taken, state Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hinted that a state election could be scheduled for December, with the earliest feasible date being the 12th. In the 2021 state election, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) captured 76 of the 82 contested seats, leaving a small opposition bloc of two Democratic Action Party (DAP) members and one independent who backs the government.

The independent, See Chee How, left the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) to sit as a free MLA. PSB subsequently disbanded as its leader and members joined the Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP), a component of GPS, leaving one outlet assembly composition at 79 GPS members, one supportive independent, and two DAP opposition members.