This political crisis mainly involved in the dispute between Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (former Sarawak chief minister) and his nephew Abdul Taib Mahmud (chief minister of Sarawak) over the control of the state government and Sarawak's natural resources.
Krisis politik tersebut utamanya melibatkan persengketaan antara Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (mantan ketua menteri Sarawak) dan keponakannya Abdul Taib Mahmud (ketua menteri Sarawak) atas kekuasaan pemerintah negara bagian dan sumber daya alam Sarawak.