Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today said that nomination and polling dates for the 10th Sarawak state election will be announced tomorrow.

He said the commission will hold a closed-door meeting to evaluate the decision before fixing the dates to ensure a smooth election process.

NONE "We will announce the dates for nomination and polling tomorrow...this will be after our meeting to discuss the best date taking into account festivities, weather and preparation of contesting parties," Abdul Aziz ( left ) told reporters in Kuching today.

Sarawak assembly speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar submitted a notice for the dissolution of the Sarawak state assembly which was signed by the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri, Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, to Abdul Aziz, and witnessed by several EC members.

For the coming Sarawak elections, 24,000 EC personnel will be deployed in election areas involving 1,740 voting centres and 2,561 voting channels.

During the first quarter of 2010, 979,796 voters had registered with the EC and are eligible to vote for the coming state elections.

The Sarawak BN controls 63 of the 71 state assembly seats while DAP has six seats, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), through independent representatives, each have one seat.

The last state election held in Sarawak was on May 20, 2006.

- Bernama