Three-way fight: Chieng of Aspirasi (left), Iskandar Turkee of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (centre) and Sumbang of Parti Bumi Kenyalang. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
BINTULU: Candidates for the Jepak by-election have varying opinions when it comes to their chances.
“With all the support from the GPS component parties, we not only want to win, but win big,” declared Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Iskandar Turkee.
He added that he would be focusing on specific issues during the two-weeks campaign, though he stopped short of revealing the issues.
Iskandar, who was former state director of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), is locked in the fight for the seat with Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (Parti Bumi Kenyalang) and Chieng Lea Ping of Aspirasi. On the candidacy of his two opponents, he was quick to say that it was within the democratic rights of any party or individual to contest in any election.
Meanwhile, Sumbang, who is contesting the seat for the second time, believed that none of them will have it easy.
“This is my second election. Without doubt it will be a tough contest among the three of us, including the Aspirasi candidate,” he said.
Sumbang said if he is given the mandate by the electorate, he would bring up issues concerning the rural areas of the constituency.Businessman Chieng, who wore a pair of sandals to file his nomination papers, sounds like he is ready to concede defeat.
“I have no chance of winning (the seat) as GPS is too powerful. Moreover, this is a predominantly Malay area, but I will try my best,” he said.
Chieng said he is contesting to make a point, which is to highlight the struggle of his party to fight for the return of Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I also want to speak out for the people who have been suffering due to the price hikes of most things,” he added.
The line-up of the candidates was announced by returning officer Abang Zainuddin Abang Turkey at 11am yesterday at the nomination centre at the Bintulu Civic Centre. Iskandar was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.28am, followed by the other two candidates.
Iskandar’s candidacy was proposed by Norita Ali, 60, the PBB Jepak women’s wing chief, and seconded by Jantai Lani, 45, a member.
The electoral roll that will be used for the Jepak by-election is the one updated until Sept 15, which contains 22,804 voters consisting of 22,761 ordinary voters and 43 police personnel.
The by-election was called following the demise of its six-term assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip, 72, on Sept 15 due to health complications.
In the 2021 Sarawak election, Talib successfully retained the seat by securing 6,277 votes against Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Rabaah Tudin (2,034 votes), Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Stevenson (587 votes) and Independent candidate Tuah Kazan (141 votes).
Jepak is one of the four state seats under the Bintulu parliamentary constituency led by MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, while the three GPS assemblymen are Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom (Kemena), Johnny Pang (Tanjong Batu) and Datuk Majang Renggi (Samalaju).
