1981 Sebandi by-election

1981 Sebandi by-election
Sebandi seat in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
Sebandi assemblyman before election; Sharifah Mordiah; BN (PBB)	Elected Sebandi assemblyman ; Abdul Taib Mahmud; BN (PBB)

The 1981 Sebandi by-election is a by-election for the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly state seat of Sebandi, Malaysia that were scheduled to be held on 25 to 28 March 1981. It was called following the resignation of the incumbent, Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi on 18 March 1981.^[1]

Background

Sharifah Mordiah, a candidate of Barisan Nasional (BN), were first elected the Sarawak state seat of Sebandi at the 1979 Sarawak state election. She were the member of BN's component party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

On 18 February 1981, Sharifah Mordiah resigned from her state seat of Sebandi, resulting of the seat to be vacated.^[1] This necessitates for a by-election to be held, as the seat were vacated more that 2 years before the expiry of the Sarawak state assembly current term. Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR) announced that the by-election will be held on 25 to 28 March 1981, with 10 March 1981 set as the nomination day.

Nomination and campaign

BN nominated Abdul Taib Mahmud, the deputy-president of PBB, and member of Parliament for Samarahan, as candidate for the seat.^[1] He were the Minister of Federal Territory in the federal government, before resigning from the role on 7 March 1981 to contest the state seat.^[1] He were also the Sebandi assemblymen until 1969 Sarawak state election, where he instead contested and won the Samarahan federal seat.^[2] Opposition parties have said that they would not contest this by-election, this would see Abdul Taib win the by-election by a walkover.

After nomination closed on 10 March 1981, it was confirmed only Abdul Taib from BN handed his nomination papers, resulting of him winning the seat unopposed.^[3]

Timeline

The key dates are listed below.

Date	Event
	Issue of the Writ of Election
10 March 1981	Nomination Day
11 - 24 March 1981	Campaigning Period
	Early polling day for postal and overseas voters
25 - 28 March 1981	Polling Day

Results

Sarawak state by-election, 25-28 March 1981: Sebandi
Upon the resignation of incumbent, Sharifah Mordhiah
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
On the nomination day, Abdul Taib Mahmud won uncontested.
	BN	Abdul Taib Mahmud
Total valid votes				100.00
Total rejected ballots
Unreturned ballots
Turnout
Registered electors			N/A
Majority
	BN hold		Swing	N/A

Previous result

Aftermath

Abdul Taib were appointed the new Chief Minister of Sarawak on 26 March 1981, a day after the previous CM, Abdul Rahman Ya'kub resigned from the role to be appointed the new Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak.^[4]^[5]

Notes

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Taib quits Govt to stand in Sebandi" (PDF). The Star (Malaysia). 8 March 1981. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
^ Pillai, M.G.G. (20 February 1981). "Taib to give up Federal post to be Sarawak CM". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
^ "Resignation of minister may lead to reshuffle". The Straits Times. 11 March 1981. p. 15. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
^ Pillai, M.G.G. (26 March 1981). "Datuk Taib to be sworn in today as Sarawak CM". The Straits Times. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
^ "Previous Chief Ministers of Sarawak". Borneo Post Online. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[TaibQuitGovt-1] "Taib quits Govt to stand in Sebandi" (PDF). The Star (Malaysia). 8 March 1981. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[2] Pillai, M.G.G. (20 February 1981). "Taib to give up Federal post to be Sarawak CM". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[3] "Resignation of minister may lead to reshuffle". The Straits Times. 11 March 1981. p. 15. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[4] Pillai, M.G.G. (26 March 1981). "Datuk Taib to be sworn in today as Sarawak CM". The Straits Times. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

[5] "Previous Chief Ministers of Sarawak". Borneo Post Online. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

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