updated version The Sarawak State Assembly was dissolved today to pave the way for the 9th state election, about seven months ahead of the end of its five-year term.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who made the announcement this morning said he had an audience with the Yang DiPertua Negeri, Muhammad Salahuddin, to obtain his consent to dissolve the 62-member assembly today.

He added that the speaker of the assembly, Awang Asia Awang Nasar, would inform the Election Commission of the dissolution.

At a press conference this morning, state attorney-general JC Fong handed the official notification signed by the head of state to Taib before the chief minister departed for Sibu to officiate the opening of a new bridge.

'Give coverage to all'

The Election Commission later announced at a separate press conference that it has set nomination day on May 9 and polling day on May 20. The campaigning period is 11 days.

According to EC chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, aspiring candidates will have to pay RM5,000 as poll deposit as well as another RM3,000 as deposit for campaign posters.

He urged the media to give fair coverage to all political parties contesting in the election.

This election will see 71 seats up for contest, nine more than in the last election in 2001.

Abdul Rashid said that most of the seats are located in the rural areas.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition currently holds 61 of the 62 seats, with Kidurong being the sole opposition seat held by DAP's Chiew Chiu Sing.

Winnable seats

According to most political analysts, while the outcome of the election is almost certain to see a return of the BN government with a strong majority, the question is which seats are likely to be conceded to the opposition.

For the opposition, the winnable seats are the Chinese-majority Kota Sentosa, Bukit Assek, Palawan, Meradong and Kidurong seats which are to be contested by DAP.

Among the Dayak-based opposition parties, the group that is linked to MDC - whose advisor is former deputy chief minister and former PBDS president Daniel Tajem ( pix, left ) - is the one touted as having the best chance to win at least one or two Dayak seats like Bukit Begunan and Ba'kelalan and possibly Batang Ai and Engkilili.

PKR's legal advisor Dominique Ng is said to have a 50:50 chance if there is a straight fight in Padungan, a seat presently held by Supp's Lily Yong Lee Lee.

In Kuching, all eyes will be on Kota Sentosa ,one of the new state seats. Supp information chief and state assistant minister Alfred Yap is expected to be challenged by DAP's Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen.

Former strongman

In Sibu, state DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng will be contesting again in Bukit Assek taking on incumbent Daniel Ngieng of Supp who trounced him in the last elections.

In Meradong, DAP may have a chance to wrest the seat from incumbent Ting Chek Sii of the Supp. Observers point out that there is talk Supp wants to replace Ting with former state DAP strongman Jason Wong Sing Nang. They say DAP could capitalise on ground sentiment which is currently against Wong.

DAP's Chiew Chiu Sing, DAP's incumbent in Kidurong, is said to be still popular and may be difficult to unseat should Supp decide to field consultant Paul Yong.