Sarawak to hold poll on Sept. 27

Sarawak to hold poll on Sept. 27

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak on
Borneo island will hold elections to its legislative assembly on
Sept. 27, the Bernama news agency said on Tuesday.

Timber-rich Sarawak is one of the safest states politically
for Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his Barisan Nasional
(National Front) coalition. It holds 58 of the 62 seats in the
state assembly.

Land rights are the most contentious issue in the state of two
million people -- a tenth of Malaysia's population -- but the
festering issue has had little bearing on past elections.

Sarawak's Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, a long-time
Mahathir ally, has held office for 20 years, matching the prime
minister's time in power.