1979 Sarawak State Election

The third Sarawak state election was held from 15 September 1979 to 22 September 1979. It is the first time that Sarawak held state election separately from the 1978 Malaysian general election. This is also the first time that the election rallies were banned in Sarawak. However, candidates and political parties were free to hold talks and house to house canvassing for votes.

Results

Sarawak Barisan Nasional won 45 out of 48 seats in the Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) and 61.2% of the popular vote. A total of 44 seats were contested in this election. The remaining four seats were won uncontested by Barisan Nasional. A total of 41 candidates lost their election deposits as they failed to take one-eighth of the total votes cast for all the candidates in their constituencies. A total of four election petitions were filed in Sarawak high court. Of these election petitions, one was subsequently withdrawn while the remaining petitions were adjourned in the year 1980.

Seats won uncontested by Barisan Nasional were:
* N18 - Batang Ai
* N20 - Layar
* N31 - Balingian
* N34 - Meluan

The full list of representatives is shown below:

Summary

Aftermath

This was the final election of Abdul Rahman as Chief Minister and leader of PBB; he would resign of both positions as well as his federal and state seats in 1981 to accept the position of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. His nephew and vice-president of PBB, Abdul Taib Mahmud would replace him as Chief Minister and party's president.

See also

* Elections in Sarawak
* List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (1978–1982)

References

{{Malaysian state elections

Sarawak state elections
1979 elections in Malaysia
Sarawak