The eighth state assembly's mandate would expire on 18 November 2006, necessitating the calling of an election beforehand.

[3] Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, comprising 124,450 square kilometers, almost as large as the Malay Peninsula.

Similar to Peninsular Malaysia, delineation of constituencies and campaign issues are organised along racial lines.

Therefore, Sarawak BN consistently won greater proportion of seats than the share of popular vote.

The chairman of EC is appointed by the incumbent government and is answerable to the Malaysian prime minister department.

[4] The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly was dissolved by chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and its predecessor Alliance has been securing decisive victories in every state elections since the formation of Malaysia.

It was later deregistered by the Malaysian Registrar of Societies (ROS) on 5 November 2002 due to the persistent unresolved leadership crisis.

[4] Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC), being one of the two parties split from the deregistered PBDS in 2004, was awaiting for registration approval from ROS.

[9][4] Meanwhile, Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) decided to contest in only one seat in view of voters base in Sarawak mainly consists of non-Muslims.

[4] The BN government lifted the ban of helicopter flights to ease the dissemination of manifestos in the rural areas.

[4] BN put heavy emphasis on rural development in terms on agricultural expansion such as palm oil, pepper, and cocoa.

[4] For example, chief minister Taib Mahmud had spoken the following words to the voters at Bekenu: It is the policy of the government to always help the people, and that is why we have a development plan.

Since the First Malaysia Plan (1MP), the government has spent hundreds of billions of ringgit to provide the infrastructure and basic amenities for the rakyat (people).

They [the opposition] have no capital to help the people so they spread lies, but do you want to wait another 50 years to see development to your area?”Sarawak government allocated projects under the SALCRA agency (Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority) in rural areas.

For example, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin announced his plans of boosting cocoa and pepper production in Sarawak.

Therefore, Sarawak BN regularly featured a headline read as "Give CM special birthday gift" on newspapers.

[4] Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) emphasized on good governance with less corruption, better human rights protection, lower inflation, and equitable allocation of resources.

PKR national advisor Anwar Ibrahim came to Sarawak for three days and highlighted these issues during his campaign.

The meagre 5% oil royalty, removal of fuel subsidies, and uncertainty associated with the renewal of the 60-year land lease among the urban residents were highlighted during the PKR campaign.

[4] BN labelled the oppositions such as DAP, PKR, and PAS as "West Malaysia opportunists", "liars" and "rejects".

The largest opposition public meeting on the night before the polling day was at Kings Centre Shopping Plaza at Kuching, with over 5,000 voters.

[4] SUPP, a component party in the BN coalition, is the biggest loser as it lost six seats to DAP in Chinese urban areas.

[10] According to political scientist Bridget Welsh, the loss of BN support in Sarawak was attributed partially to national issues such as fuel price hike, high electricity tariffs, increased inflation, slowing of reform, and the lack of direction by the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration.

[4] Locally, chief minister Taib long tenure in office and his exertion of political power in economy through firms allegedly linked to his family members and associates have raised concerns amongst the voters.

The SUPP handling of land leases involving oil palm plantations was seen as benefiting only a selected few and did not contribute to a wider Chinese community.

[4] During this election, DAP had made police reports at Opar, Balai Ringin, and Saribas for alleged vote-buying.

[11] Dublin Unting, the state assemblyman for N29 Batang Ai, died at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Kuching on 24 February 2009 after a coma.

Gabriel Adit Demong previously an independent for N43 Ngemah constituency joined PKR in November 2008.

[14] Larry Sng, who won the N54 Pelagus seat for BN, was sacked by Sarawak Peoples Party (PRS) in 2007.