1987 Sarawak state election

The fifth Sarawak state election was held between Wednesday, 15 April and Thursday, 16 April 1987 with a nomination date set on Monday, 6 April 1987. This was a snap election following the 'Ming Court' affair. The state assembly was dissolved on 12 March 1987 by Sarawak governor with the advice of chief minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud.^[1]

1987 Sarawak state election

← 1983 15–16 April 1987 1991 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 48 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly 25 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Abdul Taib Mahmud Leo Moggie Abdul Rahman Ya'kub Party BN PBDS PERMAS Leader since 26 March 1981 (1981-03-26) 17 July 1983 (1983-07-17) 19 March 1987 (1987-03-19) Leader's seat Sebandi not contesting Matu-Daro (lost) Last election 38 seats, 59.2% 6 seats, 9.3% New party Seats before 38 6 - Seats won 28 15 5 Seat change 10 9 - Popular vote 249,289 79,548 64,152 Percentage 55.3% 17.6% 14.2% Swing 3.9% 8.3% -
Chief Minister before election Abdul Taib Mahmud BN Subsequent chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud BN

All the 48 Sarawak state assembly seats were contested. In this election, Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) fielded candidates for all 48 seats, PBDS for 21 seats, PERMAS for 21 seats, Democratic Action Party (DAP) for 11 seats, and Sarawak Democratik Bersatu (BERSATU) for one seat. There were 16 independents contesting for the seats. There were a total of 118 candidates vying for the seats, which was the lowest since 1979 election.^[2] A total of 625,270 voters were eligible to cast their votes.^[3]

Background

Main article: 1987 Ming Court Affair

This snap election was called by Taib due to heightening of Ming court affair political crisis when Abdul Rahman Ya'kub together with 27 other state assemblymen signed a letter to call for Taib's resignation. Abdul Rahman formed a new political party named Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak (PERMAS) just before the election. Together with Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Abdul Rahman would form an opposition alliance to challenge Taib at the polls.

Results

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Barisan Nasional		Sarawak United Peoples' Party	117,058	25.94	11	0
			Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu	95,816	21.23	14	–5
			Sarawak National Party	36,415	8.07	3	–5
		Total		249,289	55.25	28	–10
	Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak			79,548	17.63	15	+9
	Sarawak Malaysian People's Association			64,152	14.22	5	New
	Democratic Action Party			51,341	11.38	0	0
	Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu			84	0.02	0	0
	Independents			6,820	1.51	0	–4
Total				451,234	100.00	48	0
Source: Straits Times[4]

Results by constituency

Sarawak BN, composed of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), and Sarawak National Party (SNAP), won 28 out of 48 seats on the election day, thus able to form a government with a simple majority.

The full list of representatives is shown below:^[4]

No.	State Constituency	Elected State Assembly Members	Elected Party
BN 28 | PBDS 15 | PERMAS 5 | DAP 0 | BERSATU 0 | IND 0
N01	Lundu	Ramsay Noel Jitam	BN
N02	Tasik Biru	Patau Anak Rubis @ Dr Patau Rubis	BN
N03	Padungan	Song Swee Guan	BN
N04	Stampin	Sim Kheng Hong	BN
N05	Petra Jaya	Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Haji Fauzi	BN
N06	Satok	Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg	BN
N07	Sebandi	Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud	BN
N08	Muara Tuang	Adanan bin Haji Satem	BN
N09	Batu Kawah	Chong Kiun Kong	BN
N10	Bengoh	Sora Anak Rusah	PBDS
N11	Tarat	Frederick Bayoi Manggie	BN
N12	Tebakang	Michael Ben Ak Panggi	PBDS
N13	Semera	Wan Wahab bin Wan Sanusi	BN
N14	Gedong	Mohammad Tawan bin Abdullah @ Hilary Tawan Ak Masan	PERMAS
N15	Lingga	Donald Lawan	BN
N16	Sri Aman	Michael Pilo anak Gangga	BN
N17	Engkilili	Sim Choo Nam	PBDS
N18	Batang Air	Mikai anak Mandau	PBDS
N19	Saribas	Bolhassan bin Di	BN
N20	Layar	Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang	BN
N21	Kalaka	Datuk Amar Yusuf Puteh	PERMAS
N22	Krian	Datuk Edmund Langgu anak Saga	PBDS
N23	Kuala Rajang	Hamdan bin Ahmad	BN
N24	Matu-Daro	Wahab Haji Dollah	BN
N25	Repok	David Teng Lung Chi	BN
N26	Meradong	Thomas Hii Kiang Hiong	BN
N27	Maling	Datuk Dr Wong Soon Kai	BN
N28	Seduan	Ting Ing Mieng	BN
N29	Igan	David Tiong Chiong Chu	PERMAS
N30	Dudong	Jawan Empaling	BN
N31	Balingian	Abdul Aziz Majid	BN
N32	Oya	Wan Madzidhi Mahdzar	PERMAS
N33	Pakan	Jawie Wilson Masing	PBDS
N34	Meluan	German anak Itam	PBDS
N35	Machan	Gramong Juna	PBDS
N36	Ngemah	Joseph anak Kudi	PBDS
N37	Katibas	Felix Bantin anak Jiban	PBDS
N38	Pelagus	Phi Limon anak Nuing	PBDS
N39	Baleh	James Jemut anak Masing	PBDS
N40	Belaga	Nyipa Killah @ Nyipa Bato	BN
N41	Tatau	Bolhassan bin Kambar	PBDS
N42	Kemena	Datuk Celestine Ujang Anak Jilan	BN
N43	Subis	Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin	PERMAS
N44	Miri	Dr George Chan Hong Nam	BN
N45	Marudi	Edward Jeli Anak Blayong	PBDS
N46	Telang Usan	Balan Seling	PBDS
N47	Limbang	Dato James Wong Kim Min	BN
N48	Lawas	Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan	BN

See also

• Elections in Sarawak
• 1987 Ming Court Affair
• List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (1986–1990)

References

1. Nuraina, Samad (2 April 1987). "PBDS gets to keep BN symbol". New Straits Times. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
2. "118 stand in 48 constituencies - Contest for all Sarawak seats". New Straits Times. 7 April 1987. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
3. "April 15–16 polls". People's Mirror. 20 March 1987. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
4. "Barisan win was expected, say leaders". New Straits Times. 18 April 1987. Retrieved 23 September 2015.