2016 Sarawak state election

A proposal by the Election Commission to increase the number of state seats from 71 to 82 was challenged in the High Court and nullified. However this was overturned by the Court of Appeal reasoning that the increase in seats would not breach voters' constitutional rights and was in accordance with the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution.^[6]

The composition of seats by ethnic majority consists of 22 Dayak-Iban majority seats, 17 Muslim-Malay majority seats, 16 Chinese-majority seats, 9 Melanau-majority seats, 8 Dayak-Bidayuh majority seats, 6 Dayak-Orang Ulu majority seats, 2 Kedayan-majority seats, and 2 Brunei-Malay majority seats.

The Sarawak state government was alleged to have abused their power, by banning several opposition MPs and members from entering the state during campaigning, as under Section 67 of the Immigration Act, a person cannot be denied entry into Sarawak if the visit was "for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity".^[11][12] Opposition leaders like Lim Guan Eng and Azmin Ali were allowed into the state on a temporary basis to campaign during the election period but were told to leave after five days.^[13] Both Barisan Nasional and the opposition engaged in online Youtube videos platforms to reach out to voters. Both Barisan Nasional and the opposition conveyed the "state nationalism" message through different ways. Barisan emphasized on voting on local parties to ensure the rights of the Sarawakians are preserved from cultural influence from Peninsular Malaysia while providing a vision of better living in urban centres. Meanwhile, the opposition parties emphasized that all their candidates are sourced locally. The opposition, by showing images or videos regarding the harsh life or rural dwellers in Sarawak, alleged that the federal government has been neglecting the infrastructure development in Sarawak for years.^[14]

Breakaway parties such as TERAS and UPP, with 5 and 4 seats respectively prior to the dissolution of the state assembly, have their members contested seats under the Barisan banner as direct election candidates under a deal by Adenan Satem after their parties were prevented from joining Barisan after opposition from parties such as SUPP and SPDP.^[15] Candidates from Barisan have been seen handing out money, foodstuffs and other election goodies to potential voters.^[16][17] The government is also trying to tie the election to the development of the state such as upgrading roads and building the Pan-Borneo Highway.^[18]

Due to disagreements in contesting several seats between both DAP and PKR, both parties would be facing each other and Barisan in 6 multi-cornered fights in Batu Kitang, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong.^[19] A DAP candidate had brought up the issue of minimum wage being lower in Sarawak compared to Peninsula Malaysia and that many younger Sarawakians were migrating to Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore for better job opportunities.^[20]

Two seats were won by Barisan Nasional uncontested, which are Bukit Kota and Bukit Sari.^{[21][22][additional citation(s) needed]}

Adenan Satem formed the state cabinet after being invited by Abdul Taib Mahmud to begin a new government following 7 May 2016 state election in Sarawak. To be the Chief Minister, Adenan sworn in before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri at 10.00 p.m. Malaysia Standard Time on 7 May 2016 at The Astana, Sarawak.^[25]

This election would to be Adenan's only election as Chief Minister and his final election altogether; he passed away in 2017. The election would also proved to be Barisan Nasional's last election in Sarawak; in the aftermath of the 2018 Malaysian general election and the defeat of BN, the four Sarawak component parties of BN exited the coalition to form a new Sarawak-based coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

• "Sarawak State Election To See 226 Candidates Contesting 80 Seats". BERNAMA. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2016 Sarawak state election.

• 11th Sarawak State Election | Sarawak Info ~ Sarawak Information Portal
• myUNDI Sarawak