BINTULU: “It is up to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg whether Jepak incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip will remain as a candidate in the 12th general election (PRN12),” said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Jepak information chief Othman Mat .
He stressed that whatever the decision of the party president will be, his party would accept it with an open heart.
In fact, he said, Talib also leaves it to Abang Johari to determine the suitable candidate for the Jepak state seat in the next PRN12.
“However, if the chief minister decides to retain Talib, we will continue the struggle for the sake of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and PBB.
“As this means that he (Abang Johari) believes Talib can still carry out his duties as minister or assemblyman for another term,” he said, when met after a Special Meeting Session with the heads and members of PBB Jepak branches at a leading hotel here on Sunday (Nov 21).
Othman further stated that if Talib is not renominated, he would continue to support the new candidate.
However, Othman is confident that the five-term Jepak incumbent will be re-nominated based on Talib’s excellent record in resolving local issues, especially land.
According to Othman, during his five terms as the people’s representative in the Jepak state constituency, many local issues involving Native Customary Rights (NCR) land were successfully resolved.
“For example, the NCR land issue, a lot of land has been measured and gazetted since 2013. Most recently, the land survey of riverside lots from Kampung Sinong to Kampung Baru Laut involved six villages in addition to four villages in Kampung Jepak known as land 11.
“Most of us do not see this effort, but insyaallah, he (Talib) will continue to fight for the rights of the people, especially land to be restored, if it fails, now at least the payment of compensation or ex-gratia,” he added.
Commenting on the meeting, Othman said, each branch head and member of the PBB Jepak Branch Committee present were given the opportunity to voice their opinions and views.
Some of them asked Talib to give way in this PRN12 due to health and age factors, however, some also wanted (Talib) to remain as they wanted the continuation of unfinished task, especially involving the issue of land claims.
