1996 Sarawak state election

1996 Sarawak state election

← 1991 7–8 September 1996 2001 →
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All 62 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly 32 seats needed for a majority
Registered	814,347
Turnout	372,594 (64.18%)
Majority party Minority party   Leader Abdul Taib Mahmud Wong Sing Nang Party BN DAP Leader since 26 March 1981 (1981-03-26) Unknown Leader's seat Asajaya Pelawan Last election 49 seats, 62.8% 0 seat, 9.7% Seats before 56 0 Seats won 57 3 Seat change 1 3 Popular vote 242,839 32,421 Percentage 67.7% 9.0% Swing 4.9% 0.6%
Chief Minister before election Abdul Taib Mahmud BN Subsequent chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud BN

The seventh Sarawak state election was held between Saturday, 7 September and Sunday, 8 September 1996 with nomination date on Tuesday, 27 August 1996. The Sarawak State Assembly was dissolved on 15 August 1996 before its expiration on 28 November 1996. There were 62 seats available but only 43 were contested on the election day. This election saw 814,347 registered voters with 64.18% voters turned up to cast their votes.^[1]

Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) which was consisting of Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), and Sarawak Dayak People's Party (PBDS) fielded candidates for all 62 seats, followed by Democratic Action Party (DAP) fielding 6 candidates, while there were 60 independents jostling for 38 state seats in Sarawak. A total of 128 candidates was successfully nominated on the nomination day. PBDS which was an opposition party back in 1991 election, was re-accepted into Sarawak BN in 1994.^[1]