1983 Sarawak state election

The fourth Sarawak state election was held between Wednesday, 28 December and Thursday, 29 December 1983 with a nomination date on Thursday, 8 December 1983. The two-day duration of the election was shorter than the eight-day election in 1979 state election because of improvements in transportation and communication systems. Only 45 out of 48 seats were contested. The state assembly was dissolved on 18 November 1983 by the governor of Sarawak with the advice of chief minister of Sarawak, which was one year and 15 days earlier than the expiration of the state assembly on 3 December 1984.[1]

1983 Sarawak state election

← 1979 28–29 December 1983 1987 →

All 48 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
25 seats needed for a majority
Registered505,872
Turnout367,060 (72.56%)
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Abdul Taib Mahmud James Wong Leo Moggie
Party BN SNAP PBDS
Leader since 26 March 1981 (1981-03-26) December 1981 (1981-12) 17 July 1983 (1983-07-17)
Leader's seat Sebandi Limbang Not contesting
Last election 45 seats, 61.2% 16 seats, 16.7% New party
Seats before 45 16 -
Seats won 30 8 6
Seat change Decrease15 Decrease8 -
Popular vote 166,819 46,741 33,712
Percentage 46.2% 13.0 9.3
Swing Decrease3.9% Decrease3.7% -

Chief Minister before election

Abdul Taib Mahmud
BN

Subsequent chief minister

Abdul Taib Mahmud
BN

The election was held during the peak of monsoon season. This election saw 505,872 registered voters eligible to vote, with 367,060 voters (72.56%) actually casting their votes. In this election, Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) fielded candidates for 32 seats, SNAP for 18 seats, PBDS for 14 seats, Democratic Action Party (DAP) for 7 seats, and Sarawak Democratik Bersatu (BERSATU) for 4 seats. There were 80 independents contesting for the seats.[1]

Background

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The leadership crisis of Sarawak National Party (SNAP, a component party of BN) has caused the emergence of an offshoot party named Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). However, chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud decided to accept PBDS into the BN coalition. This has caused dissatisfaction of SNAP leadership towards Taib. Both parties SNAP and PBDS were unwilling to compromise any of their seats. Therefore, Taib decided to allow SNAP and PBDS to compete against each other by under their respective party symbols.[2] Serious competitions occurred in state constituencies contested by PBDS and SNAP. Generally, this election was carried out in a peaceful and orderly manner except for the clashes between PBDS candidate and the election officials in N 35 Machan constituency.[1] Sarawak BN, composed of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), won 29 seats on the election day. They later accepted SNAP and PBDS into the coalition, thus securing a total of 44 of 48 seats.

Results

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Summary

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Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Barisan NasionalParti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu77,69421.52190
Sarawak United Peoples' Party89,16124.70110
Total166,85546.22300
Sarawak National Party46,74112.9580
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak33,7129.346New
Democratic Action Party31,2468.6500
Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu2,5400.700New
Independents79,93122.144+1
Total361,025100.00480
Valid votes361,02598.35
Invalid/blank votes6,0701.65
Total votes367,095100.00
Registered voters/turnout505,87272.57
Source: Hazis[2]

Results by constituency

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The full list of representatives is shown below:[1]

Three seats were won uncontested by Barisan Nasional (BN):

N24. Matu Daro won by Wahab Haji Dollah
N32. Oya won by Haji Salleh Jafaruddin
N44. Miri won by Dr George Chan Hong Nam
No. State Constituency Elected State Assembly Members Elected Party
BN 30 | SNAP 8 | PBDS 6 | DAP 0 | BERSATU 0 | IND 4
N01 Lundu Ramsay Noel Jitam BN
N02 Tasik Biru Patau Anak Rubis @ Dr Patau Rubis SNAP
N03 Padungan Song Swee Guan BN
N04 Stampin Sim Kheng Hong BN
N05 Petra Jaya Hafsah binti Harun 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 Wilfred Rata Nissom IND
N11 Tarat Robert Jacob Ridu BN
N12 Tebakang Michael Ben Ak Panggi SNAP
N13 Semera Wan Wahab bin Wan Sanusi BN
N14 Gedong Mohammad Tawan bin Abdullah @ Hilary Tawan Ak Masan BN
N15 Lingga Daniel Tajem Ak Miri PBDS
N16 Sri Aman Hollis Ak Tini BN
N17 Engkilili Sing Cho Nang IND
N18 Batang Air Sylvester Langit Ak. Uming SNAP
N19 Saribas Haji Zainuddin bin Haji Satem BN
N20 Layar Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang BN
N21 Kalaka Wan Yusof bin Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang BN
N22 Krian Langgu Ak. Sagu @ Edmund PBDS
N23 Kuala Rajang Saadi bin Olia BN
N24 Matu-Daro Wahab Haji Dollah BN
N25 Repok Teng Lung Chi BN
N26 Meradong Hii Kiang Hiong BN
N27 Maling Wong Soon Kai BN
N28 Seduan Ting Ing Mieng BN
N29 Igan Tiong Chiong Chu BN
N30 Dudong Wilfred Kiroh Ak. Jeram IND
N31 Balingian Wan Habib bin Syed Mahmud BN
N32 Oya Haji Salleh Jafaruddin BN
N33 Pakan Jawie Wilson Mas' PBDS
N34 Meluan German Ak. Itam SNAP
N35 Machan Gramong Juna PBDS
N36 Ngemah Joseph Ak. Kudi PBDS
N37 Katibas Ambrose Blikau Ak. Enturan BN
N38 Pelagus Nueng Ak. Kudi SNAP
N39 Baleh James Jemut Masing PBDS
N40 Belaga Tajang Laing BN
N41 Tatau Bolhassan bin Kambar IND
N42 Kemena Datuk Celestine Ujang Anak Jilan BN
N43 Subis Usop bin Wahab BN
N44 Miri Dr George Chan Hong Nam BN
N45 Marudi Edward Jeli Anak Blayong SNAP
N46 Telang Usan Balan Seling SNAP
N47 Limbang Dato James Wong Kim Min SNAP
N48 Lawas Datuk Haji Noor bin Haji Tahir BN

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Report on the state legislative assembly general elections Sarawak, 1983 (Malay-English bilingual version). Election Commission of Malaysia. URL accessed on 18 November 2009
  2. ^ a b Hazis, FS (2012). In Domination and Contestation: Muslim Bumiputera Politics in Sarawak. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 290. ISBN 978-981-4311-58-8. Google Book Search. Retrieved 23 June 2014.