By Lian Cheng
BINTULU, Oct 21: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) candidate Chieng Lea Phing, 62, joins the Jepak by-election to ensure that voters may have food on the table while Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, 42, prefers to mum on his campaign strategy.
Chieng also participates in the by-election as a candidate because he strongly believes that it is the right and duty of every citizen to ascertain that democracy is upheld despite the slim chance of winning the seat.
He acknowledged that there was no chance for him to claim victory in this race, but to him, winning is for those who try.
“I hope to create changes and bring food to the table for the people. The economic situation is bad now. There are many who can’t even afford to buy rice because it is too expensive,” said Chieng when met after the Jepak by-election nomination held at Bintulu Civic Centre today.
For Stevenson, this is the second time he contested in Jepak. During his debut, which was in the 2021 Sarawak Election, he garnered 587 votes against late Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip’s 6,277, Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Rabaah Tudin (2,034 votes), and independent candidate Tuah Kazan’s 141 votes.
For this by-election, he preferred to keep his strategy, including the issues he will raise during the campaign, under wraps.
“I will be highlighting the issues which we have been fighting for the last 60 years.
“If I were to be given the mandate by the people this time, I would raise specific issues. I want to bring forth progress, especially along the coastal and rural areas,” said Stevenson when met by the press after nomination.
Apart from Stevenson and Chieng, the third candidate is Iskandar Turkee from Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
The vacancy in the Jepak seat occurred due to the passing of its six-term incumbent since 1996, Talib, who passed away on Sept 15, 2023, at 72 due to health complications.
The Election Commission has fixed Oct 21 as nomination day, with polling day set for Nov 4. According to the updated electoral roll, Jepak has 22,804 registered voters. — DayakDaily
