2006 Sarawak state election

2006 Sarawak state election

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All 71 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly 36 seats needed for a majority
Registered	892,537
Turnout	552,350 (61.89%)
Majority party Minority party Third party   DAP SNAP Leader Abdul Taib Mahmud Wong Ho Leng Edwin Dundang Bugak Party BN DAP SNAP Leader since 26 March 1981 (1981-03-26) 12 February 2001 18 May 2003 (2003-05-18) Leader's seat Balingian Bukit Assek Bukit Saban (lost) Last election 60 seats, 71.2% 1 seat, 8.4% 6 seats, 5.5% (part of Barisan Nasional) Seats before 60 1 6 Seats won 62 6 1 Seat change 2 5 5 Popular vote 341,587 82,134 51,459 Percentage 61.8% 14.9% 9.3% Swing 9.4% 6.5% 3.8%
Chief Minister before election Abdul Taib Mahmud BN Subsequent chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud BN

The ninth Sarawak state election was held on Saturday, 20 May 2006 with nomination day on Tuesday, 9 May 2006. The election functioned to elect 71 representatives to the Sarawak State Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri in Malay). The eighth state assembly was dissolved by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng by the advice of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, on 24 April 2006.

On nomination day, Barisan Nasional won two seats without contest.

This election saw 892,537 voters eligible to cast their ballots.^[1]

The previous state election was held in 2001, when the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) won 60 out of 62 seats in the eighth state assembly. The Democratic Action Party won one, while another went to an independent candidate. The eighth state assembly's mandate would expire on 18 November 2006, necessitating the calling of an election beforehand.^[2]

Barisan Nasional fielded candidates for all 71 seats:

• 35 seats by United Traditional Bumiputera Party (PBB)
• 19 seats by Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP)
• 9 seats by Sarawak Peoples Party (PRS)
• 8 seats by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)

A total of 28 seats was contested by Sarawak National Party (SNAP), followed by People's Justice Party (PKR) (25 seats), Democratic Action Party (DAP) (12 seats), and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (1 seat). There were 20 independents contesting for 16 seats.^[3]