Awla Idris

Summary

Awla Idris is the PBB-GPS assemblyman for Simunjan in Sarawak's Samarahan Division, having won the seat in both the 2016 and 2021 Sarawak state elections. He is an appointed committee member of PBB Sarawak and has served as the sitting incumbent for Simunjan since 2016. His constituency is a predominantly rural, Malay-Iban area located roughly 51 kilometres from Kuching.

Biography

Awla Idris (also rendered as Awla Dris in official records) is the State Legislative Assembly Member (ADUN) for Simunjan, a constituency in the Samarahan Division of Sarawak, Malaysia [1]. He is a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the dominant Bumiputera party within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition, and holds an appointed committee position within PBB Sarawak [1]. Awla Idris was first elected to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly in the 11th Sarawak state election in May 2016, contesting Simunjan under the Barisan Nasional (BN)-PBB ticket and securing a majority of 2,712 votes [2]. At the time of his nomination in April 2016, he was reported to be 54 years old, placing his birth year at approximately 1962 [3]. He retained the seat in the 12th Sarawak state election on 18 December 2021, standing under the GPS-PBB banner and receiving 51.5% of votes cast (4,276 votes) with a majority of 3,351 in a four-cornered contest, on a voter turnout of 70.6% [4]. The Simunjan constituency has 8,299 registered voters spread across 14 polling districts as at 31 October 2022 [5]. The constituency covers the Simunjan District, which is located approximately 51.4 kilometres east-south-east of Kuching and is predominantly inhabited by Malay and Iban communities [5]. Prior to the 2021 election, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed Awla Dris as the sitting incumbent for Simunjan [3]. A Bernama report in December 2021 noted that Simunjan has tourism potential including Gunung Ngeli, an issue associated with Awla Dris in the campaign period [6].

Known for

Awla Idris is known as the long-serving PBB assemblyman for Simunjan, having held the seat across two consecutive state elections in 2016 and 2021. He represents a predominantly Malay-Iban rural constituency in the Samarahan Division and holds an appointed committee role within PBB Sarawak. His tenure is associated with development issues in the Simunjan area, including infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism.

Political positions

No detailed public statements on specific policy positions by Awla Idris were found in allowlist sources at the time of this profile. As a PBB assemblyman within the GPS coalition, he operates within a party framework that emphasises Sarawak state rights, Bumiputera interests, and Sarawak's autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. A Bernama report from December 2021 noted the potential for developing Simunjan as a tourism and agricultural district, including ecotourism sites such as Gunung Ngeli, in the context of the constituency campaign period. No independent or divergent policy stances by Awla Idris have been identified in allowlist sources.

Political career

1. April 2016Named as the PBB candidate for Simunjan in the 11th Sarawak state election by Chief Minister Adenan Satem. Reported to be 54 years old at the time of nomination.⛓
2. May 2016Won the Simunjan state seat in the 11th Sarawak state election under the Barisan Nasional (BN)-PBB ticket with a majority of 2,712 votes.⛓
3. November 2021Confirmed by Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg as the sitting incumbent for Simunjan ahead of the 12th Sarawak state election.⛓
4. December 2021Named as the GPS-PBB candidate for Simunjan in the 12th Sarawak state election.⛓
5. 18 December 2021Re-elected as ADUN for Simunjan under GPS-PBB, receiving 4,276 votes (51.5% vote share) with a majority of 3,351 in a four-cornered contest on 70.6% voter turnout.⛓

Election history

• 2021SimunjanWon51.5%⛓
• 2016SimunjanWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsAwla Idris has held the Simunjan state seat continuously since May 2016, winning under BN-PBB in 2016 with a 2,712-vote majority and under GPS-PBB in 2021 with a 3,351-vote majority at 51.5% vote share.⛓
• GovernmentSarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg identified Awla Dris as the incumbent for Simunjan when asked about candidate retention ahead of the 12th Sarawak state election in November 2021.⛓