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.