# 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.
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.

## Background

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. 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. 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
### Summary

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu | 77,694 | 21.52 | 19 | 0 |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Sarawak United Peoples' Party | 89,161 | 24.70 | 11 | 0 |
| | Barisan Nasional | Total | Total | 166,855 | 46.22 | 30 | 0 |
| | Sarawak National Party | Sarawak National Party | Sarawak National Party | 46,741 | 12.95 | 8 | 0 |
| | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | 33,712 | 9.34 | 6 | New |
| | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | 31,246 | 8.65 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | 2,540 | 0.70 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 79,931 | 22.14 | 4 | +1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 361,025 | 100.00 | 48 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 361,025 | 98.35 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 6,070 | 1.65 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 367,095 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 505,872 | 72.57 | | |
| Source: Hazis ||||||||

### Results by constituency

The full list of representatives is shown below:
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 |