06 Dec 2021 | 04:17 AM UTC
Malaysia: Sarawak to hold state legislative elections Dec. 18
Sarawak, Malaysia, to hold state legislative elections Dec. 18. Tight security likely during campaign period from Dec. 6 and on voting day.
Event
Sarawak State will hold elections Dec. 18 for seats in the state's legislative assembly. Candidates will campaign for 12 days after registering on Nomination Day Dec. 6. Campaign programs will likely involve fewer participants than in past election events due to ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions. While officials have banned all election-related gatherings and rallies amid COVID-19 concerns, heightened security will likely be in place to enforce the measures. Turnout at voting centers will likely be lower than in the past as authorities allow votes to be mailed in by post.
Authorities will almost certainly bolster security throughout the campaign period and on election day. Heightened security is likely at nomination centers Dec. 6 and voting and counting centers Dec. 18. Localized traffic and business disruptions are possible if officials erect roadblocks and conduct security checks.
Context
The election will take place after the Sarawak state assembly's five-year term expired in June 2021. Officials earlier postponed elections due to COVID-19 concerns in the state but lifted an emergency proclamation Nov. 5, paving the way for elections. The incumbent state government Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will likely win the elections amid a possible low turnout due to COVID-19 restrictions and vote-splitting between opposition parties in multi-cornered fights. Further spread of COVID-19 due to the state polls also remains possible; a similar election in Sabah in 2020 caused a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, which triggered public discontent and the subsequent fall of former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration in August.
Advice
Avoid any rallies, party offices, polling stations, and counting centers, as a precaution. Seek updated information from local sources for updates on events, as organizers may not announce details in advance. Use alternative routes to avoid election-related events; allow additional time to reach destinations.
