1969 Sarawak state election
Introduction The first Sarawak state election was held from Saturday, 10 May 1969 and scheduled to be completed on Saturday, 7 June 1969 which lasted for 4 weeks and was carried out in staggered basis. This was due to the lack of transportation and communication systems in the state at that time. The state election was held at the same time as the 1969 general election. The Dewan Rakyat of the Malaysian Parliament and all the state assemblies were dissolved on 20 March 1969, except for Kelantan (which dissolved later on 31 March) and Sabah (which were not up for election as it had held its state election in 1967). The nomination date was set on Saturday, 5 April 1969.However, because of the riot occurred during 13 May incident and the declaration of emergency and the promulgation of Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 1 of 1969 on 15 May 1969, all the ongoing polls were suspended until 1970.During when the suspension was enforced, polling in 9 out of 48 constituencies in Sarawak had started. None of the elections in Sarawak was completed at that time.
Background Prior to 1969 election, a political party was suspended from contesting in general election. The political party later mounted a public campaign calling the voters to boycott the election. The Sarawak parliamentary and state election was resumed from Saturday, 6 June 1970 to Saturday, 4 July 1970.During the resumption of the election, there was a tragedy in Sarikei in the third division of Sarawak on 29 June 1970.The communist terrorists had killed three election officials on their return journey after completing polling at a station. There was also an incident were a land mine was exploded outside the polling station in the same division.This election saw 332,373 eligible voters after the first registration in Sarawak. Of these eligible voters, 26% were the Malays, 28 were the Chinese, and 46 percent were from Dayaks. The turn up rate of voters was 80.0%, which was considered high as compared to other states in Malaysia. A total of 221 candidates were contesting for 48 state seats in Sarawak. The breakdown of number of seats were:* 33 seats were contested by Sarawak Alliance (''Perikatan Sarawak'' in Malay). It was made up of Parti Bumiputera Sarawak (BUMIPUTERA) and Sarawak Chinese Association (SCA)* 40 seats by Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP)* 35 seats by Parti Pesaka Sarawak (Pesaka)* 47 seats by Sarawak National Party (SNAP)There were 66 independent candidates vying for the seats.
Results === Summary ===As a result of Parti Bumiputera-SCA alliance, SCA received majority of its votes from Malay voters. Meanwhile, Dayak parties (SNAP and PESAKA) only attracted 37.6% of the vote although the Dayak people made up of 46% of the electorate.=== Results by constituency ===The full list of representatives is shown below: No. State Constituency   Elected Council Negri Members  Elected Party   Alliance '''15''' | SNAP '''12''' | SUPP '''12''' | Pesaka '''8''' | IND '''1''' S01  Lundu  Chong Kim Mook  '''SUPP'''  S02  Bau  Ong Ah Khim  '''SUPP''' S03  Kuching Barat  Cheng Yew Kiew  '''Alliance''' S04  Kuching Timor  Stephen K.T. Yong  '''SUPP''' S05  Semariang  Ajibah Abol  '''Alliance''' S06  Sekama  Sim Kheng Hong  '''SUPP''' S07  Sebandi  Ikhwan bin Abang Haji Zainei  '''Alliance''' S08  Muara Tuang  Mohamad Musa  '''Alliance''' S09  Batu Kawah  Chong Kiun Kong  '''SUPP''' S10  Bengoh  Segus Anak Ginyai   '''SUPP''' S11  Tarat  Nelson Kundai Ngareng  '''SNAP''' S12  Tebakang  Michael Ben Ak Panggi  '''SNAP''' S13  Semera  Lee Thiam Kee(Puteh)  '''Alliance''' S14  Gedong  Abang Haji Abdul Rahim  '''Alliance''' S15  Lingga-Sebuyau Dato' Penghulu Tawi Sli  '''Pesaka''' S16  Simanggang  Nelson Liap Kudu  '''SNAP''' S17  Engkilili-Skrang Simon Dembab Maja  '''Pesaka''' S18  Ulu Ai  David Anak Jemut  '''SNAP''' S19  Saribas  Kihok bin Amat  '''Alliance''' S20  Layar  Dato' Stephen Kalong Ningkan  '''SNAP''' S21  Kalaka  Wan Alwi bin Tuanku Ibrahim  '''Pesaka''' S22  Krian  Dunstan Endawie Enchana  '''SNAP''' S23  Kuala Rajang  Dato' Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub  '''Alliance''' S24  Repok  Khoo Peng Loong  '''SUPP''' S25  Matu-Daro  Awang Hipni bin Pengiran Anu  '''Alliance''' S26  Binatang  Anthony Teo Tiao Gin  '''SUPP''' S27  Sibu Tengah  Chew Kim Poon  '''SUPP''' S28  Sibu Luar  Wong Kah Sing  '''SUPP''' S29  Igan  Ling Beng Siong  '''Alliance''' S30  Dudong  Kong Chung Siew  '''SUPP''' S31  Balingian  Mohd. Pauzi bin Hamdani  '''Alliance''' S32  Oya  Vincent Ferrer Suyong  '''Alliance''' S33  Pakan  Mandi Anak Sanar  '''Pesaka''' S34  Meluan  Gramong Anak Jelian  '''SNAP''' S35  Machan  Thomas Kana  '''Pesaka''' S36  Ngemah  Lias Anak Kana  '''IND''' S37  Song  Ngelambong Bangau  '''SNAP''' S38  Pelagus  Bennet Jarrow  '''Pesaka''' S39  Baleh  Kenyan Anak Temenggong Koh  '''Pesaka''' S40  Belaga  Nyipa Kilah  '''SUPP''' S41  Tatau  Awang Ismail bin Pg. Zainuddin   '''Alliance''' S42  Kemana  Ahok Anak Jalin  '''Pesaka''' S43  Subis  Francis Loke  '''SNAP''' S44  Miri  Chia Chin Shin  '''Alliance''' S45  Marudi  Edward Jeli Anak Blayong '''SNAP''' S46  Telang Usan  Balan Seling  '''SNAP''' S47  Limbang  Dato' James Wong Kim Min  '''SNAP''' S48  Lawas  Awang Daud bin Awang Metusin  '''Alliance'''
Aftermath The prime minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak invited SUPP to join the Sarawak Alliance a month before the election to form a coalition government as SNAP previously did not have a good relationship with the federal government. SUPP eventually followed the federal preferences to form a coalition government with Parti Bumiputera. This enables the coalition to secure a total of 27 out of 48 seats in the Sarawak Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly). SUPP joined the coalition government as an equal partner with Parti Bumiputera, where both parties signed a letter of understanding on the composition of the new Sarawak government cabinet. Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (Parti Bumiputera) was nominated as chief minister with Stephen Yong (SUPP) and Simon Demak Maja (PESAKA) as deputy chief ministers. SCA was excluded from the Sarawak cabinet positions after the elections.
See also * 1969 Malaysian general election
References