# 1987 Sarawak state election

The fifth Sarawak state election was held between Wednesday, 15 April and Thursday, 16 April 1987 with a nomination date set on Monday, 6 April 1987. This was a snap election following the 'Ming Court' affair. The state assembly was dissolved on 12 March 1987 by Sarawak governor with the advice of chief minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud.
All the 48 Sarawak state assembly seats were contested. In this election, Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) fielded candidates for all 48 seats, PBDS for 21 seats, PERMAS for 21 seats, Democratic Action Party (DAP) for 11 seats, and Sarawak Democratik Bersatu (BERSATU) for one seat. There were 16 independents contesting for the seats. There were a total of 118 candidates vying for the seats, which was the lowest since 1979 election. A total of 625,270 voters were eligible to cast their votes.

## Background

This snap election was called by Taib due to heightening of Ming court affair political crisis when Abdul Rahman Ya'kub together with 27 other state assemblymen signed a letter to call for Taib's resignation. Abdul Rahman formed a new political party named Persatuan Rakyat Malaysia Sarawak (PERMAS) just before the election. Together with Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Abdul Rahman would form an opposition alliance to challenge Taib at the polls.

## Results

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Sarawak United Peoples' Party | 117,058 | 25.94 | 11 | 0 |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu | 95,816 | 21.23 | 14 | –5 |
| | Barisan Nasional | | Sarawak National Party | 36,415 | 8.07 | 3 | –5 |
| | Barisan Nasional | Total | Total | 249,289 | 55.25 | 28 | –10 |
| | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak | 79,548 | 17.63 | 15 | +9 |
| | Sarawak Malaysian People's Association | Sarawak Malaysian People's Association | Sarawak Malaysian People's Association | 64,152 | 14.22 | 5 | New |
| | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | Democratic Action Party | 51,341 | 11.38 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | Sarawak Demokratik Bersatu | 84 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 6,820 | 1.51 | 0 | –4 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 451,234 | 100.00 | 48 | 0 |
| Source: Straits Times ||||||||

### Results by constituency

Sarawak BN, composed of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), and Sarawak National Party (SNAP), won 28 out of 48 seats on the election day, thus able to form a government with a simple majority.
The full list of representatives is shown below:
| No. | State Constituency | Elected State Assembly Members | Elected Party |
| BN 28 | PBDS 15 | PERMAS 5 | DAP 0 | BERSATU 0 | IND 0 ||| |
| N01 | Lundu | Ramsay Noel Jitam | BN |
| N02 | Tasik Biru | Patau Anak Rubis @ Dr Patau Rubis | BN |
| N03 | Padungan | Song Swee Guan | BN |
| N04 | Stampin | Sim Kheng Hong | BN |
| N05 | Petra Jaya | Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Haji Fauzi | 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 | Sora Anak Rusah | PBDS |
| N11 | Tarat | Frederick Bayoi Manggie | BN |
| N12 | Tebakang | Michael Ben Ak Panggi | PBDS |
| N13 | Semera | Wan Wahab bin Wan Sanusi | BN |
| N14 | Gedong | Mohammad Tawan bin Abdullah @ Hilary Tawan Ak Masan | PERMAS |
| N15 | Lingga | Donald Lawan | BN |
| N16 | Sri Aman | Michael Pilo anak Gangga | BN |
| N17 | Engkilili | Sim Choo Nam | PBDS |
| N18 | Batang Air | Mikai anak Mandau | PBDS |
| N19 | Saribas | Bolhassan bin Di | BN |
| N20 | Layar | Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang | BN |
| N21 | Kalaka | Datuk Amar Yusuf Puteh | PERMAS |
| N22 | Krian | Datuk Edmund Langgu anak Saga | PBDS |
| N23 | Kuala Rajang | Hamdan bin Ahmad | BN |
| N24 | Matu-Daro | Wahab Haji Dollah | BN |
| N25 | Repok | David Teng Lung Chi | BN |
| N26 | Meradong | Thomas Hii Kiang Hiong | BN |
| N27 | Maling | Datuk Dr Wong Soon Kai | BN |
| N28 | Seduan | Ting Ing Mieng | BN |
| N29 | Igan | David Tiong Chiong Chu | PERMAS |
| N30 | Dudong | Jawan Empaling | BN |
| N31 | Balingian | Abdul Aziz Majid | BN |
| N32 | Oya | Wan Madzidhi Mahdzar | PERMAS |
| N33 | Pakan | Jawie Wilson Masing | PBDS |
| N34 | Meluan | German anak Itam | PBDS |
| N35 | Machan | Gramong Juna | PBDS |
| N36 | Ngemah | Joseph anak Kudi | PBDS |
| N37 | Katibas | Felix Bantin anak Jiban | PBDS |
| N38 | Pelagus | Phi Limon anak Nuing | PBDS |
| N39 | Baleh | James Jemut anak Masing | PBDS |
| N40 | Belaga | Nyipa Killah @ Nyipa Bato | BN |
| N41 | Tatau | Bolhassan bin Kambar | PBDS |
| N42 | Kemena | Datuk Celestine Ujang Anak Jilan | BN |
| N43 | Subis | Datuk Salleh Jafaruddin | PERMAS |
| N44 | Miri | Dr George Chan Hong Nam | BN |
| N45 | Marudi | Edward Jeli Anak Blayong | PBDS |
| N46 | Telang Usan | Balan Seling | PBDS |
| N47 | Limbang | Dato James Wong Kim Min | BN |
| N48 | Lawas | Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan | BN |