KUCHING: Voters in Jepak have been called to extend their full support to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate in the upcoming Jepak state by-election.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this support is essential to ensure the continuous development of the constituency.
“Yes, the Election Commission (EC) has determined the date of nomination and voting for the Jepak by-election, and GPS will place its candidate.
“I hope the voters will give their fullest support to ensure a great victory so that the development efforts of the area, and Sarawak in general, can continue,” he told the media in Lawas on today (Sept 29).
When asked for his views on the political culture of Sarawak, Awang Tengah responded that the state’s politics focuses on political stability to bring in development.
“We do not want dogmatic politics that will eventually lead to disunity.
“Our (Sarawak) politics emphasises stability and only with stability, we can focus on efforts on bringing development.”
He emphasised that what is important is how Sarawak mobilises all resources to improve the wellbeing and livelihood of the people.
“And this effort is through our Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to make this state a high-income state based on the three pillars. namely economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability.”
Meanwhile, the EC has set Nov 4 as the polling day and Oct 21 as the nomination day for the Jepak state by-election.
The Jepak seat became vacant on Sept 15 following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who passed away at the age of 72.
The late Talib was a former minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) and was the Jepak assemblyman for six terms from 1996.
In the 12th Sarawak election in 2021, he won with a significant majority of 4,243 votes, garnering 6,277 votes against his opponents Raba’ah Tudin of PSB, Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (PBK), and independent Tuan Kazan.
