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By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 21: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will field a candidate from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) for the N67 Jepak state constituency by-election, said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari, who is also GPS chairman and PBB president, said any announcement about candidates from the coalition will be announced after the Election Commission (EC) sets the date for the by-election.
“Indeed we will field a GPS candidate probably from PBB,” he said when met by reporters at the ground-breaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the Sarawak Integrated Sour Gas Evacuation System (SISGES) sour gas hub for Shell’s Rosmari-Marjoram Bintulu Onshore Gas Plant today in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu.
On Tuesday (Sept 19) at a press conference, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar stated that a by-election for the N67 Jepak state constituency seat as there is still more than two years before the automatic dissolution of the current DUN Sarawak.
Mohamad Asfia mentioned that a letter dated Sept 19 was sent to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh informing the latter of an unexpected vacancy in N67 Jepak.
The Jepak seat is vacant following the passing of its assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip at the age of 72 on Sept 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Sept 19 that the EC will hold a special meeting to discuss the N67 Jepak state constituency by-election on Monday (Sept 25).
EC said, “In accordance with Article 21(5) of the Sarawak State Constitution which provides for the contingency vacancy of DUN seat N67 Jepak, Sarawak, needs to be filled within 60 days from the date the vacant seat is confirmed by the EC.”
It went on to say that the special meeting chaired by Abdul Ghani will determine the important dates for the by-election, such as candidate nomination day and voting day. — DayakDaily
