# 1979 Sarawak state election

The third Sarawak state election was held from 15 September 1979 to 22 September 1979. It is the first time that Sarawak held state election separately from the 1978 Malaysian general election. This is also the first time that the election rallies were banned in Sarawak. However, candidates and political parties were free to hold talks and house to house canvassing for votes.

## Results

Sarawak Barisan Nasional won 45 out of 48 seats in the Council Negri (now Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) and 61.2% of the popular vote. A total of 44 seats were contested in this election. The remaining four seats were won uncontested by Barisan Nasional. A total of 41 candidates lost their election deposits as they failed to take one-eighth of the total votes cast for all the candidates in their constituencies. A total of four election petitions were filed in Sarawak high court. Of these election petitions, one was subsequently withdrawn while the remaining petitions were adjourned in the year 1980.
Seats won uncontested by Barisan Nasional were:
* N18 - Batang Ai
* N20 - Layar
* N31 - Balingian
* N34 - Meluan
| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu | 76,583 | 24.29 | 18 | 0 |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Sarawak United Peoples' Party | 63,540 | 20.15 | 11 | –1 |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Sarawak National Party | 49,750 | 15.78 | 16 | –2 |
| | Barisan Nasional | Total | Total | 193,918 | 61.51 | 45 | +15 |
| | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | 32,893 | 10.43 | 0 | New |
| | Parti Rakyat Jati Sarawak | Parti Rakyat Jati Sarawak | Parti Rakyat Jati Sarawak | 17,212 | 5.46 | 0 | New |
| | Sarawak People's Organisation | Sarawak People's Organisation | Sarawak People's Organisation | 13,101 | 4.16 | 0 | New |
| | Parti Umat Sarawak | Parti Umat Sarawak | Parti Umat Sarawak | 238 | 0.08 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 61,944 | 19.65 | 3 | +3 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 315,261 | 100.00 | 48 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 315,261 | 97.86 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 6,887 | 2.14 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 322,148 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 448,235 | 71.87 | | |
| Source: Election Commission of Malaysia ||||||||

### Elected members

The full list of representatives is shown below:
| No. | State Constituency | Member | Party |
| BN 45 | IND 3 ||| |
| N01 | Lundu | Chong Kim Mook | BN (SUPP) |
| N02 | Tasik Biru | Patrick Uren | IND |
| N03 | Padungan | Tan Meng Chong | IND |
| N04 | Stampin | Sim Kheng Hong | BN (SUPP) |
| N05 | Petra Jaya | Hafsah Harun | BN (PBB) |
| N06 | Satok | Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha | BN (PBB) |
| N07 | Sebandi | Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi | BN (PBB) |
| N08 | Muara Tuang | Adenan Satem | BN (PBB) |
| N09 | Batu Kawah | Chong Kiun Kong | BN (SUPP) |
| N10 | Bengoh | Stephen Yong Kuet Tze | BN (SUPP) |
| N11 | Tarat | Robert Jacob Ridu | BN (PBB) |
| N12 | Tebakang | Michael Ben Panggi | BN (SNAP) |
| N13 | Semera | Abang Ahmad Urai Abang Mohideen | BN (PBB) |
| N14 | Gedong | Mohammad Tawan Abdullah @ Hilary Tawan Masan | BN (PBB) |
| N15 | Lingga | Daniel Tajem Miri | BN (SNAP) |
| N16 | Sri Aman | Hollis Tini | BN (SUPP) |
| N17 | Engkilili | Nading Lingeh | BN (SNAP) |
| N18 | Batang Ai | David Jemut | BN (SNAP) |
| N19 | Saribas | Zainuddin Satem | BN (PBB) |
| N20 | Layar | Alfred Jabu Numpang | BN (PBB) |
| N21 | Kalaka | Wan Yusof Tuanku Bujang | BN (PBB) |
| N22 | Krian | Dunstan Endawie Enchana | BN (SNAP) |
| N23 | Kuala Rajang | Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar | BN (PBB) |
| N24 | Matu-Daro | Abdul Rahman Ya'kub | BN (PBB) |
| N25 | Repok | Law Hieng Ding | BN (SUPP) |
| N26 | Meradong | Thomas Hii King Hiong | BN (SUPP) |
| N27 | Maling | Wong Soon Kai | BN (SUPP) |
| N28 | Seduan | Ting Ing Mieng | BN (SUPP) |
| N29 | Igan | David Tiong Chiong Chu | BN (SUPP) |
| N30 | Dudong | Sandah Jarrow | BN (SNAP) |
| N31 | Balingian | Wan Habib Syed Mahmud | BN (PBB) |
| N32 | Oya | Edwin Esnen Unang | BN (PBB) |
| N33 | Pakan | Jawie Wilson Masing | BN (SNAP) |
| N34 | Meluan | Gramong Jelian | BN (SNAP) |
| N35 | Machan | Gramong Juna | BN (SNAP) |
| N36 | Ngemah | Joseph Kudi | BN (SNAP) |
| N37 | Katibas | Ambrose Blikau Enturan | BN (PBB) |
| N38 | Pelagus | Jonathan Sabai Ajing | BN (SNAP) |
| N39 | Baleh | Peter Gani Kiai | BN (SNAP) |
| N40 | Belaga | Tajang Laing | IND |
| N41 | Tatau | Joseph Mamat Samuel | BN (SNAP) |
| N42 | Kemena | Celestine Ujang Jilan | BN (PBB) |
| N43 | Subis | Mumin Kader | BN (PBB) |
| N44 | Miri | Chia Chin Shin | BN (SUPP) |
| N45 | Marudi | Edward Jeli Belayong | BN (SNAP) |
| N46 | Telang Usan | Joseph Balan Seling | BN (SNAP) |
| N47 | Limbang | James Wong Kim Min | BN (SNAP) |
| N48 | Lawas | Noor Tahir | BN (PBB) |

## Aftermath

This was the final election of Abdul Rahman as Chief Minister and leader of PBB; he would resign of both positions as well as his federal and state seats in 1981 to accept the position of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. His nephew and vice-president of PBB, Abdul Taib Mahmud would replace him as Chief Minister and party's president.