GPS wins landslide victory, but result for one seat postponed

The Sarawak legislative assembly election has concluded and results are being tallied. This live report will provide updates on results as they are announced.

Results by constituency, click here. For the primer on Sarawak election, click here. 

Mulu results will not be announced tonight

11.55pm: The results for the Mulu race will not be announced today, according to the Election Commission.

In a statement, the Election Commission says bad weather and inaccessible roads have prevented some of the ballot boxes from reaching the main tally centre.

This concludes Malaysiakini's live coverage of the Sarawak election tallying process.

Support our efforts by subscribing to Malaysiakini here.

Our reporters in Sarawak are Fion Yap, M Fakhrull Halim and Annabelle Lee.

Only 23 votes separate top 2 in Tg Batu

11.15pm: GPS' Johnny Pang Leong Ming has unseated DAP's Tony Chiew as the Tanjong Batu assemblyperson.

The vote difference between the two candidates is just 23 votes.

Pang gets 35.4 percent of the vote share while Chiew 35.2 percent. Three other candidates have lost their deposits.

GPS wins more seats than its 2016 landslide

11.10pm: GPS, which already won by a landslide in the 2016 Sarawak polls, has further improved its performance.

The coalition has picked up 73 seats and could secure a few more in the 82-member legislative assembly.

In the 2016 polls, the GPS parties, which was part of BN at the time, had won 72 out of 82 seats in the Sarawak assembly.

Abang Jo wins his mandate, to be sworn in as CM tonight

10.35pm: Abang Johari Openg will be sworn in as the chief minister tonight after the GPS coalition is sure of a landslide victory in the Sarawak legislative assembly election.

He arrives at the Astana this evening in black ceremonial clothes, even though the Election Commission still hasn't completed the tallying process for some constituencies.

Abang Johari, 71, is the sixth chief minister of Sarawak. In 2017, he succeeded Adenan Satem.

PSB wins Batu Lintang, replaces DAP as biggest opposition

10.05pm: PSB has picked up Batu Lintang, giving the party four seats in the Sarawak legislative assembly.

PSB is on track to becoming the biggest opposition party in Sarawak on their electoral debut, displacing DAP, which only won two seats.

For Batu Lintang, incumbent See Chee How retains the seat by winning 35.89 percent of the votes cast, down from 61.6 percent which he won in 2016 when he was with PKR. He was sacked from PKR in April last year.

See narrowly edges out GPS-SUPP's Sih Hua Tong by just 94 votes. PKR's Cherishe Ng comes in at a close third, winning 14.79 percent of the votes cast.

Soon Koh: Sarawakians not ready for change

9.45pm: PSB chairperson Wong Soon Koh has been announced as the state assemblyperson of Bawang Assan, Sibu.

After the announcement, Wong holds a press conference and says he is disappointed that Sarawakians are not yet ready for political change.

"People of Sarawak are not ready for change. They still prefer being held hostage to the type of politics practised by BN and now, of course, by GPS.

"We can't change the people unless they themselves want to change," says Wong at Dewan Suarah Sibu.

Wong concludes that the reason why PSB lost heavily in this election is that the political practice in rural Sarawak is still “money is king”.

"I think you know what I mean.

"(My vote shares) had never been below 70 percent in a Dayak area, but this time around, to my surprise, I lost quite heavily in a Dayak area.

"But what I lost in the Iban area is made up by strong support from the Chinese community.

"If not, I would have also lost in Bawang Assan, to my surprise and of course not surprised. Because of the type of politics practised by GPS, the Iban and Dayak people succumbed to it," he adds.

Sarawak is better looked after by Sarawakians - Abang Jo

9.15pm: Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching - Following GPS’ thumping win in the Sarawak election, coalition chairperson Abang Johari Openg believes the results show a preference for state-based parties.

“Well, the people say Sarawak is better looked after by Sarawakians,” he says to a question about DAP and PKR’s dismal performance.

Abang Johari adds that he was in “no hurry” to be sworn in or appoint his new state cabinet.

“My partners are all good partners. They give confidence in us [sic]

“When the time comes, I will announce my candidates (for the state cabinet),” he says.

He then leads GPS top leaders in waving GPS flags and singing the coalition theme song a second time.

This time, there is also confetti and sparks. 

GPS celebrations have begun

9pm: Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching - GPS top guns are gathering in a banquet room to celebrate winning the Sarawak election.

Led by coalition chairperson Abang Johari Openg, they wave GPS flags and sing the party anthem.

“Sarawak first!” they shout in unison while dressed in red and white.

GPS retains supermajority

8.55pm: GPS has retained its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak legislative assembly.

At the time of writing, it has won at least 55 out of the 82 seats in the state assembly and is expected to pick up several more seats.

In the 2016 state election, GPS which was then part of BN, won 72 out of 82 seats in the assembly.

DAP left with two seats

8.50pm: DAP won only two seats in the Sarawak legislative assembly, down from seven won in 2016.

DAP has only managed to retain Padungan and Pending.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jien said his party accepted the decision of the voters.

He promised that DAP will continue to be firm in its resolve and protect the people's interests.

"We will (conduct) a review. We accept the people's decision. We will make adjustments accordingly," he said.

Chong also thank Padungan voters for returning him to the legislative assembly.

Unofficial: GPS wins S'wak polls

8.20pm: GPS has won a simple majority to form the next Sarawak government.

The coalition has garnered 42 out of 82 seats in the state assembly and is on track to pick up more.

This is the first time the PBB, PRS, PDP and SUPP have won the state election under their new GPS banner.

They were previously part of Sarawak BN.

GPS leads DAP in Pelawan

8.15pm: GPS-SUPP's Michael Tiang is leading Sarawak DAP deputy president David Wong Kee Woan in the seat of Pelawan by only 100 votes.

So far, Tiang has garnered 4,413 votes and Wong with 4,313 votes.

Meanwhile, PSB's Low Chong Nguan is third with 3,757 votes, followed by PBK's Tiew Yen Houng (3,146 votes) and Aspirasi's Janet Loh (302 votes).

DAP loses Pujut

7.55pm: DAP has lost the seat of Pujut, according to Bernama.

In the 2016 election, DAP's Ting Tiong Choon won the seat with a 1,759-vote majority.

However, Ting was in 2017 disqualified for allegedly possessing Australian citizenship. 

In this election, the seat is picked up by GPS' Adam Yii.

Soon Koh retains seat as opposition candidate

7.50pm: PSB president Wong Soon Koh has retained the Bawang Assan seat.

Wong has held on to that seat since 1991 and will now enter a seventh term.

This election is the first time that Wong did not use the BN logo during the election.

Wong is a former Sarawak cabinet member. 

PSB picks up second seat 

7.45pm: PSB has picked up a second seat, wresting Engkilili from GPS.

PSB's Johnichal Rayong Ngipa garners 3,246 votes, defeating GPS' Desmond Sateng Sanjan who gets 2,055 votes.

Independent candidate Gemong Batu receives 2,013 votes, while PBK's Stel Datu wins 151 votes.

This is the first seat to switch hands.

PSB, an opposition party making its debut in this Sarawak polls, has shown a respectable performance.

The other seat it won is Ba'kelalan. It is retained by Baru Bian, who is previously from PKR.

GPS halfway to a simple majority

7.40pm: GPS has won at least 21 seats and is halfway to a simple majority.

A total of 42 out of the 82-member Sarawak assembly is needed for a simple majority and 55 is needed for a two-thirds majority.

To date, the opposition has only picked up one seat - Ba'kelalan by PSB.

Incumbent Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg is expected to address the press in Kuching at 9pm.

All challengers for Bukit Goram lose their deposit

7.35pm: GPS-PBB's Jefferson Jamit Unyat has retained the Bukit Goram seat in style. All four of his opponents have lost their deposit.

Jefferson's vote share is 68.45 percent, roughly the same as what he received in 2016.

Dr Sim retains Batu Kawah, given stronger mandate

7.30pm: SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian has retained the Batu Kawah seat.

Sim's performance is even better compared to the 2016 election. His vote share this year is 69.77 percent, up from 54.12 percent in 2016.

The runner-up is DAP's Kelvin Yii, who is the Bandar Kuching MP. Yii gets only 22.19 percent of the votes. Two other candidates in the race have lost their deposits.

PSB's Baru Bian retains Ba'kelalan

7.15pm: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has made history by winning a seat in the Sarawak legislative assembly on their first electoral outing.

PSB's Baru Bian has retained the Ba'kelalan seat by winning 54.66 percent of the votes cast - almost as good as his performance in 2016 as a PKR candidate.

His closest competitor is GPS' Sam Laya. As for Baru's former party PKR, their candidate Martin Labo garners only 57 votes and hence will lose his deposit.

PAS denied in Beting Maro, again

7pm: PAS' sole candidate in the Sarawak election fails to unseat GPS in Beting Maro.

PAS was placed second in the Beting Maro race during the 2011 and 2016 elections.

Incumbent Razaili Gapor has retained the Beting Maro seat, according to Bernama, earning a fourth term.

Abang Jo gets mandate from Gedong voters

6.50pm: GPS leader Abang Johari Openg is the new Gedong assemblyperson.

Previously, Abang Johari was the Satok assemblyperson for 40 years but decided to move to Gedong instead.

Meanwhile, GPS' Abdul Yakub Arbi has retained Balingian - a constituency which has been long represented by Sarawak governor Taib Mahmud.

PSB claims it has won in four seats

6:45pm: PSB claims it has won in at least fourt seats - namely Engkilili, Simanggang, Ba'kelalan and Bawang Assan.

A big board set up by PSB at its Bawang Assan office in Sibu, shows that based on the unofficial results, it has won in these four seats.

Bawang Assan is a seat held by PSB chief Wong Soon Koh for more than 30 years.

However, Wong won the seat as a BN direct candidate in 2016.

PRS' Liwan retains Belaga

6.40pm: GPS-PRS' Liwan Lagang has retained the Belaga seat, albeit with a slightly reduced majority.

According to the Election Commission, he has polled 70.52 percent of the votes cast, down from 90 percent in 2016.

The runner-up in Belaga is PSB's Henry Usat Bit, who has polled 25 percent of the votes cast.

There are two independent candidates who have lost their deposits. 

GPS retains Murum and Sebuyau

6.30pm: The Election Commission has called the Sebuyau election for GPS' Julaihi Narawi.

According to the unofficial count, Julaihi secures 79.3 percent of the votes cast, up from 69.88 percent in 2016.

In Murum, GPS' Kennedy Chukpai Ugon has secured around 64 percent of the vote share and has an insurmountable lead, which means he is set to retain his seat.

Kennedy's most prominent opponent is PSB's Stanley Ajang Batok, a former Belaga MP. Stanley's vote share, according to the unofficial count is 24.6 percent.

PSB proving formidable in Bawang Assan

6.25pm: PSB is proving itself to be formidable opposition, mounting a strong challenge against GPS in Bawang Assan.

PSB's Wong Soon Koh is neck-and-neck with GPS' Robert Lau Hui Yew who is from SUPP.

Lau is ahead with 2,580 votes but Wong is at his heels with 2,259 votes. Independent candidate Ricky Enteri has 322 votes, PBK's Michelle Ling has 239 votes while DAP's Amy Lau is in last place with 232 votes.

There's still around half of the votes left to count.

Wong previously won Bawang Assan as a BN direct candidate. He was formerly with SUPP but broke away from the party.

PBB's Douglas retains seat

6.15pm: GPS' Douglas Uggah Embas has retained his seat and won a third term as the Bukit Saban state assemblyperson, based on the unofficial count.

The unofficial count suggests that he has secured 77.47 percent of the votes cast.

Prior to the dissolution of the state assembly, Douglas was the deputy chief minister and second finance minister. He is also the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president.

DAP denies sending messages 'giving out money'

6.12pm: DAP's Padungan candidate Chong Chieng Jen alleges that his phone number was stolen and used to send malicious messages.

The Sarawak DAP on its Facebook page urges the public not to believe the messages. 

According to one of the messages, the voters are asked to go to DAP’s campaign centre to redeem RM200 as a token of appreciation for supporting DAP.

Another message claims that the voters can go to a petrol station to claim their petrol money - RM20 for a car and RM10 for a motorcycle.

Ali Biju gets over 1k votes despite quitting

6.10pm: Bersatu's Ali Biju, who went rogue and contested in the Sarawak polls but later pulled out following his party's intervention, is still pulling a respectable amount of votes in Krian.  

With almost half the votes counted, he has garnered 1,228 votes. However, GPS is still ahead with 2,083 votes followed by PSB with 1,569 votes. PBK's Danny Kuan has 102 votes.

Ali's name is still on the ballot paper as a candidate although he officially withdrew after nomination day.

However, Ali has campaigned for GPS' Friday Belik following his withdrawal.

Ali is the incumbent in Krian which he won under the PKR ticket in 2016.

However, he was left without a platform after defecting to Bersatu, which has agreed not to contest in the Sarawak polls as part of a deal with GPS.

GPS sets up camp in a ballroom

6pm: Borneo Convention Centre Kuching - GPS has set up camp in a ballroom at a large convention centre about a 15-minute drive from Kuching city centre.

The vote counting event is set to begin at 6pm but no top party figures are present yet.

The room is decked out with GPS flags, a stage and three large LED screens, which will be used to display the election results.

Banquet tables also fill up half of the ballroom.

The screen states that GPS component party PBB has already secured two of the 47 seats it contested but does not state which two seats these are.

55pct turnout as of 4pm

5.45pm: Wet weather has been reported from Kuching all the way to Sibu. This could hamper turnout.

As of 4pm, the Election Commission reports a turnout of 55 percent. The EC is not expected announce the final turnout until much later tonight.

Polling ends, counting begins to determine Sarawak's new govt

5.30pm: Polling has ended with the turnout expected to be lower than the 68.33 percent seen in 2016 due to unfavourable weather conditions.

The Sarawak legislature has 82 seats - the biggest in the country. Constituencies in Sarawak are relatively smaller than in Peninsular Malaysia with a median voter number of 12,589.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is expected to retain hold of the government due to its perceived unity, incumbency and favourable electoral boundaries.

That is not to say there is no dissent. Malaysiakini's small team in Sarawak has spoken to voters who are upset with longstanding problems relating to infrastructure and the perceived nonchalance of those who have served multiple terms in office.

However, the opposition is unable to unite ahead of the election. The two most prominent opposition entities are Pakatan Harapan and Parti Sarawak Bersatu.