BINTULU: The Jepak constituency has been a stronghold of PBB for six terms under the stewardship of the late Datuk Talib Zulpilip, hence PBB’s confidence it will get to keep the seat.
PBB vice president Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom is therefore optimistic that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate from PBB, Iskandar Turkee, though making his debut, will win outright in the Nov 4 by-election.
“Iskandar’s candidacy was decided after he passed the screening and evaluation by the top leaders of PBB and GPS,” he said in a WhatsApp interview yesterday.
“However, in our democracy, we cannot prevent anyone from contesting in any election, so this by-election is no exception, and ultimately the people or voters will make the decision.
“There aren’t many issues in Jepak, as the redistricting in Jepak went smoothly. That being said, everyone must work together to ensure a significant majority, and that the candidate is accepted by everyone.”
Rundi, who is also the Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, expressed confidence that the voters in the constituency will fully support the GPS candidate.
On Wednesday, Premier and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced Iskandar’s candidacy.
Iskandar, who holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Universiti Putra Malaysia (2008), has previously served as the liaison officer for Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Masir Kujat from 2015 to 2016.
The Jepak by-election was called following the passing of the incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip, 72, due to complications from kidney, liver, heart, and diabetes on Sept 15.
In the 2021 state election, he won Jepak for GPS with 6,277 votes, securing a majority of 4,243 votes over the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) candidate Raba’ah Tudin (2,034 votes), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (587 votes), and independent candidate Tuah Kazan (141 votes).
PBK has announced that Stevenson will once again contest for the party in the by-election, while the People’s Aspiration Party Sarawak (Aspirasi) has stated that its candidate Chieng Lea Ping will contest the seat.
The Election Commission has set nomination day for Oct 21 with early voting slated for Oct 31.
