[3] For the first time as a local coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won an overwhelming landslide in the election, winning 76 seats and a supermajority over the legislature.

The incumbent Sarawak Barisan Nasional coalition, led by Adenan Satem, won 72 seats, allowing it to form a majority government.

On 11 January 2017, Chief Minister Adenan Satem died from cardiac arrest, thus he was unable to complete his second term.

A by-election was held in Adenan's seat of Tanjong Datu on 18 February, which was overwhelmingly retained by the Barisan Nasional coalition.

The Malaysian United Indigenous Party saw its introduction in the state with the membership of Ali Biju, the MLA for Krian.

[12] This resulted in Parti Sarawak Bersatu overtaking Pakatan Harapan as the second largest grouping in the Legislative Assembly.

[15] Media reports indicated in July 2020 that the election will likely be held in November after the consideration of the federal and state budgets in October.

As Malaysia follows the Westminster system of government, the head of government (Prime Minister at the federal level and the Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers at the state level) is the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the respective legislature – this is normally the leader of the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the legislature.

In practice, coalitions and alliances in Malaysia, and by extension, in Sarawak, generally persist between elections, and member parties do not normally contest for the same seats.

[24] While the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2019, which provided for the voting age to be lowered to 18 and automatic voter registration, was enacted in July 2019,[25] it was not proclaimed until 1 December 2021, which set 15 December as the commencement date of the amendment, after the voter lists for this election has been finalised.

[54] His cabinet, announced on 30 December, were sworn in on 4 January 2022 at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly building, in a historic virtual ceremony before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, via video conference from The Astana, as Covid-19 restrictions were still in force.

[55][56] Wong Soon Koh, the president of PSB and MLA for Bawang Assan, were appointed as Sarawak State Opposition Leader.

Upon the dissolution of PSB and the joining of its members in GPS, which was the state ruling coalition, Chong Chieng Jen of DAP took office as the Sarawak State Opposition Leader for the second term after the Sarawak opposition was left with only PH (DAP) who were represented by only two MLAs Chong himself who was the Padungan MLA and Pending MLA Violet Yong Wui Wui.