By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 18: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has officially named Iskandar Turkee as its candidate for the N67 Jepak by-election.
The announcement was made by GPS chairman and Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during a press conference at a hotel in Bintulu today.
Iskandar, aged 54, is the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak director. He also hold positions as a panel member of Sarawak Social Council and is a committee member of the One Stop Committee Tackling Drug Issue in Sarawak, as well as the Malaysia Anti-Drug Association (Pemadam) Sarawak.
“After thorough verification with the police, MACC (Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission) and the Insolvency Department, we are pleased to announce Iskandar Turkee as the candidate from PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) who will represent GPS in this by-election.
“He (Iskandar) is born here (Jepak) and has a wealth of experience, particularly in his role as the AADK Sarawak director. With this announcement, he has resigned effective immediately,” Abang Johari said.
Abang Johari emphasised Iskandar’s commitment to continue the works initiated by the late Datuk Talib Zulpilip, the former Jepak incumbent, together with the Jepak community, to ensure ongoing and future development in Jepak, as well as the broader Bintulu Division, through 2030.
“Bintulu is rapidly developing and we have plans for Jepak until 2030. (The late) Talib has requested for Jepak to be developed akin to areas like Petra Jaya and Darul Hana in Kuching, and we are dedicated to realise these ambitions.
“Hopefully, we will win big in the upcoming by-election and bolster GPS, including to realise our objective to reclaim Bintulu Port,” Abang Johari added.
So far, 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.
Notably, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) have all declared that they will be sitting out of this by-election.
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
