KUCHING, Nov 1: Voters in the Jepak state constituency are advised not to heed the persuasion of certain parties to not go out and vote in the Jepak by-election, which will be held on Nov 4.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said there had been attempts to mislead voters with rumours circulating that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would win anyway, which could affect voter turnout in the by-election, Bernama reported.
Awang Tengah was quoted by Bernama as saying, “(The message asking voters not to vote) is already viral (saying) GPS will win. (Voters) don’t even have to go down to vote and they will win. But if all GPS supporters don’t vote, how can we win?”
The PBB deputy president said this when met by reporters after campaigning in Kampung Hilir Kuala Tatau, about 50 kilometres from Bintulu, on Tuesday (Oct 31).
The Jepak by-election was called after its six-term assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip of GPS, passed on Sept 15.
The by-election is a three-cornered fight involving GPS candidate Iskandar Turkee, Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s (PBK) Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, and Chieng Lea Phing of Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi).
GPS comprises PBB, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the news outlet, Awang Tengah, who is also Sarawak Deputy Premier, also slammed certain parties who tried to organise gambling activities to predict the results of the by-election.
He said the act was akin to making a mockery of the democratic system and could undermine GPS’s efforts to record a big victory in the by-election.
“This state by-election is not a gamble. This is to determine our future. This is a very serious matter,” he added. — DayakDaily
