Abang Johari and GPS leaders at the coalition’s first convention in Kuching on April 19. – Information Department photo
FROM longhouse and kampung visits to association dinners and to kicking a ball to launch a football tournament, ADUNs — especially those in rural constituencies — are crisscrossing their ‘kawasan’ with renewed vigour.
The sudden surge of activity is hardly surprising. Speculation has been rife that the 13th Sarawak state election is just around the corner, as the five-year term of these ADUNs is going to end within less than a year.
Some say the election will be in July, others say it will be in November after the end of the statewide Sarawakku Sayang programme.
Some observers even say there is no urgency to hold the election this year, as the election can be called by April 2027.
The current Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) first sat on Feb 14, 2022 after the 12th state election on Dec 18, 2021. Under the state constitution, the assembly’s term lasts five years, and an election must then be held within 60 days after dissolution.
For many ADUNs, the challenge lies not only in covering the sheer geography of their seats but also in balancing the demands of governance with the optics of presence.
A friend of mine shared that he had to reschedule an event in Kuching because the ADUN, who was invited as guest-of-honour, was tied up with officiating events at his constituency.
“YB is busy, many events now in his kawasan. So we hold it the next day,” he said.
It is also a time when some ADUNs will be appearing on the local radio station, promoting events or initiatives.
I remember a few years back an elected representative talking at length about his ‘report card’ for the constituency.
I had tuned in to a local station, hoping to listen to some upbeat ‘joget’ tunes while driving. But it was this YB talking, which I did not really mind as it provided me with some information on what the YB had been doing for his constituency.
Nonetheless, in recent weeks, the sight of convoys winding through village access roads has become almost routine.
Constituents are treated to a flurry of walkabouts, community dialogues, and the occasional ribbon-cutting, as incumbents and hopefuls alike seek to remind voters that they are never far from the ground.
Observers note that rural ADUNs, whose constituencies often span vast tracts of land, are clocking in marathon schedules.
“It’s like Gawai came early,” some would quip, referring to the festive atmosphere that accompanies these visits.
For many ADUNs, the challenge lies not only in covering the sheer geography of their seats but also in balancing the demands of governance with the optics of presence.
Still, the hustle has its lighter moments. At some stops, some ADUNs could be spotted gamely joining a dance or even singing a few songs, much to the delight of the crowd.
Elsewhere, another may be teased for sampling tuak before delivering his speech, which are all part of connecting with the people.
As the state gears up for the polls, one thing is clear: Sarawak’s ADUNs are on the move, and the road to the ballot box is paved with handshakes, selfies, and plenty of kampung hospitality.
The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has started beating the war drums by organising the GPS Convention on April 19 this year, which united over 5,000 delegates from its four component parties.
Analysts saw the convention as a rally to assess the coalition’s progress since its formation in 2018 and to strengthen its machinery in preparation for potential state polls.
The president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, roused the crowd by urging Sarawakians to give the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) the ‘eggs’ (zero seats) in the coming state election.
Beneath the veneer of unity, analysts caution that GPS faces challenges in managing inter-party relations within its four-party coalition. SUPP and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), in particular, have overlapping claims over at least three seats.
This followed the merger of former Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) members into PDP, and they included elected representatives for seats that are still being claimed by SUPP.
The upcoming increase in state seats from 82 to 99 has also created natural friction over territory and candidacy.
Premier and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg recently said the ruling coalition will field candidates for all the seats, which means no seats will be ceded to other parties.
“If the process (to approve the new seats) can be completed in time, then perhaps the election could be held with 99 seats. If not, it may still proceed with the existing 82 seats,” he said at the time.
Abang Johari, also president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), had also hinted the party may field five to six new faces this coming election.
Recently, DUN Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar strongly hinted the state election would be this year, when he lamented over the silence from Election Commission (EC) over the proposed 17 new state seats for Sarawak.
The DUN passed the Bill on the 17 seats in its sitting on July 7, 2025, but the EC has yet to indicate if the delineation exercise can be completed before polls are called.
The proposed new seats must be approved by Parliament after the EC completes redrawing the seat boundaries.
“Months have passed with no word whether the 17 new seats are in time for the election this year,” said Asfia on May 9, which strongly indicated the election will not be in 2027.
So, if the election is held before the new seats are approved, that will mean 82 seats will be contested just like five years ago.