By Ling Hui
BINTULU, Oct 19: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is not taking the Jepak by-election for granted and its machinery will be going at full force to retain the seat with a big win.
Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang (GPS-SUPP) said all GPS component parties including Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) will work hard to support Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) candidate Iskandar Turkee.
He said GPS is determined to secure more votes as compared to the last general election, which was over 9,000 votes from Jepak for Bintulu parliamentary seat’s incumbent Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.
“(It is) because that will be an indication of how the people are feeling towards GPS’ policies and efforts so far,” he told DayakDaily today.
While GPS is almost halfway through its five-year term until the next state election in 2026, Pang said the Jepak by-election serves like a ‘mid-term review’ for GPS’ performance thus far.
Pang said he is all ready to campaign for the GPS candidate, but mainly covering the urban areas under his constituency involving Kampung Jabai, Kampung Assyakirin 1, 2 and 3, which have over 800 Jepak voters.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has been appointed as GPS’ Jepak by-election director and Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Stephen Rundi Utom his deputy. Both are PBB’s senior vice presidents.
Up until today, only two other Sarawak-based political parties have confirmed their participation in the by-election.
Parti Aspiration Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi) has put forward Bintulu businessman Chieng Lea Phing, aged 64, as its candidate, while Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has re-nominated 42-year-old businessman Stevenson Joseph Sumbang from Sibu to contest the seat.
The vacancy in the Jepak seat occurred due to the passing of its six-term incumbent since 1996, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who passed away on Sept 15, 2023 at the age of 72 due to health complications.
In the 2021 Sarawak Election, Talib retained the Jepak seat by securing 6,277 votes, against PSB’s Rabaáh Tudin (2,034 votes), PBK’s Stevenson (587 votes) and independent candidate Tuah Kazan (141 votes).
The Election Commission has fixed Oct 21 as the Nomination Day, with polling day set for Nov 4. According to the updated electoral roll, Jepak has a total of 22,804 registered voters. — DayakDaily
