KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will announce its candidates for the 12th state election on Dec 4, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       The Chief Minister said the ruling state coalition was ready for the polls as it had anticipated a mid-December polling day.

       "We expected polling to be somewhere before Christmas.

       "We will announce our candidates two days before nomination," he told reporters after opening a private school in Miri on Wednesday (Nov 24).

       The Election Commission announced earlier Wednesday that Sarawak will go to the polls on Dec 18, with nomination on Dec 6.

       Abang Johari also said GPS was all set for the election.

       "We only need to finetune our preparations. Everything is ready," he added.

       The Sarawak Legislative Assembly was dissolved on Nov 3 following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent to lift the statewide Emergency the same day, paving the way for the polls to be held.

       GPS, which held 68 seats prior to the dissolution, will contest all 82 seats in the election.