2023 Jepak by-election

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2023 Jepak by-election
← 2021 4 November 2023 Next →
N67 Jepak seat in the
Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Iskandar Turkee Stevenson Joseph Sumbang Chieng Lea Ping
Party PBB PBK ASPIRASI
Alliance GPS
Popular vote 9,638 854 431
Percentage 88.24% 7.82% 3.95%
Jepak assemblyman before election

Talib Zulpilip (died)
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (PBB)

Elected Jepak assemblyman

Iskandar Turkee
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (PBB)

The 2023 Jepak by-election was a by-election that was held on 4 November 2023 for the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly seat of Jepak.[1][2] It was called following the death of its incumbent, Talib Zulpilip from kidney complications on 15 September 2023.[3]

The by-election was the latest in Sarawak after the 2017 Tanjong Datu by-election.

Background[edit]

Jepak is a state constituency in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and one of the four constituencies in the federal constituency of Bintulu. As of 15 September 2023, Supplementary Electoral Roll used by Election Commission (EC) for this by-election, Jepak has 22,804 eligible registered voters, including 43 voters from the police force.[4] The significant increase of voters from 14,643 during the 2021 state election to 22,804 is due to the previous election has not implemented the UNDI18.

Talib was a member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, representing Jepak for six terms since winning the seat in 1996. He was a member of the supreme council appointed by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the current ruling party of Sarawak. He is also the chairman of PBB's Jepak branch.[5] In the Sarawak cabinet, he has held the position of Junior Minister of Tourism and Heritage, and Minister in the Premier Office (Integrity and Ombudsman).[6] Talib's poor health condition previously raised concerns among his party members in his branch, who urged him to step down and give way to younger candidates before the 2021 Sarawak state election.[7][8] However he was retained as candidate by GPS-PBB in the election, successfully defending his seat in a 4-corner contest by 4,243 votes majority over his nearest rival. On 15 September 2023, Talib died of kidney complications at Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Kuching, leaving his constituency vacated at the next day.

Nomination and campaign[edit]

On 18 October 2023, GPS through Premier and its Chairman Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg, announced Iskandar Turkee, former state chairman of National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) as the candidate representing the coalition in the by-election.[9] A loccal candidate from Kampung Sebiew who previously was not a member of any component party in GPS including PBB, Iskandar was chosen by consensus within PBB and support from other GPS parties.[10][11][12]

Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (SEDAR) president, Othman Abdillah has said on 20 September that the party may consider fielding a candidate in the by-election,[13] but later on 23 September clarified his statement, and proposing a unified opposition to face GPS.[14]

Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) announced on 25 September that they will not enter as a sign of solidarity to GPS, who are one of the partners in the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional led federal government.[15] Although urged to compete in the election by fellow PH component party Democratic Action Party (DAP), who is in opposition in Sarawak Assembly,[16] PKR stood on its decision.[17]

On 28 September, Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (ASPIRASI) announced through its president that the party will contest the by-election.[18] The party later confirmed the statement and fills Chieng Lea Ping, a businessman by trade, as their candidate on 17 October.[19]

Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) also confirmed its intention to contest in this by-election, having pick Stevenson Joseph Sumbang as its candidate.[20] The party was the first among all the contesting parties to announce its candidate, on 5 October. A former Royal Malaysian Police personnel, Stevenson will contest in Jepak for the second time, having lost to Talib in the 2021 state election while garnering only 587 votes.[21]

Candidates nomination day was announced by Election Commission (EC) to be on 21 October 2023.[2] On the nomination day, it was confirmed that there will be a 3-corner fight between Iskandar (GPS-PBB), Chieng (ASPIRASI) and Stevenson (PBK) after nominations closed.[22]

Timeline[edit]

Date Event
25 September 2023 Issue of the Writ of Election
21 October 2023 Nomination Day
21 October 2023 – 3 November 2023 Campaigning Period
31 October 2023 Early Polling Day For Postal and Advance Voters
4 November 2023 Polling Day

Election results[edit]

Sarawak state by-election, 4 November 2023: Jepak
Upon the death of incumbent, Talib Zulpilip
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
GPS Iskandar Turkee 9,638 88.24 +18.80
PBK Stevenson Joseph Sumbang 854 7.82 +1.33
ASPIRASI Chieng Lea Ping 431 3.95 +3.95
Total valid votes 10,769
Total rejected ballots 152
Unreturned ballots 2
Turnout 10,923 48.57
Registered electors 22,804
Majority 8,784
GPS hold Swing

Previous results[edit]

Sarawak state election, 2021: Jepak
Party Candidate Votes %
GPS Talib Zulpilip 6,277 69.44
PSB Raba'ah Tudin 2,034 22.50
PBK Stevenson Joseph Sumbang 587 6.49
Independent Tuah Kazan 141 1.56
Total valid votes 9,039 100.00
Total rejected ballots 146
Unreturned ballots 34
Turnout 9,219 62.96
Registered electors 14,643
Majority 4,243
GPS gain Swing
Source(s)
https://lom.agc.gov.my/ilims/upload/portal/akta/outputp/1718688/PUB687.pdf

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ali, Nur Shazreena (15 September 2023). "Deputy DUN Speaker: EC to be notified of vacant Jepak state seat for by-election". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Bernama (25 September 2023). "Jepak state by-election on Nov 4: EC". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Talib Zulpilip passes away at 72". The Borneo Post. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  4. ^ Bernama (25 September 2023). "Jepak by-election falls on Nov 4". The Star. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  5. ^ YUSSOP, YUNUS (31 March 2022). "Talib Zulpilip remains PBB Jepak chairman, Pengiran Daud replaces Saidi as deputy chairman". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  6. ^ Bernama (16 September 2023). "Talib Zulpilip pemimpin berintegriti tinggi, sentiasa perangi rasuah - Abang Johari". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  7. ^ YUSSOP, YUNUS (22 November 2021). "PBB Jepak: Time for Talib to give way". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  8. ^ YUSSOP, YUNUS (8 November 2021). "PBB Jepak deputy chief in about turn after initially backing Talib to be retained". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Iskandar Turkee calon GPS PRK Jepak". Berita Harian (in Malay). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  10. ^ Ling, Sharon (18 October 2023). "Jepak by-election: Iskandar Turkee named as GPS candidate". The Star. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  11. ^ Bernama. "PBB Women chief backs Iskandar Turkee as GPS candidate for Jepak by-election". Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  12. ^ Yussop, Yunus (19 October 2023). "Former PBB Jepak deputy chairman says no split in party, members to ensure bigger majority for Iskandar Turkee". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  13. ^ TEN, MARILYN (20 September 2023). "Jepak by-election: Sedar may field candidate, says party president". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  14. ^ Edward, Churchill (23 September 2023). "Sedar proposes opposition pact for Jepak by-election to face GPS". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  15. ^ Cheng, Lian (26 September 2023). "PKR Sarawak to sit out Jepak by-election for sake of maintaining unity govt". DayakDaily. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  16. ^ ALI, NUR SHAZREENA (28 September 2023). "Jepak by-election: DAP man tells PKR to field candidate, challenge GPS". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  17. ^ Ahmad, Shafik (30 September 2023). "PRK Jepak: PKR Sarawak tidak bertanding". www.astroawani.com (in Malay). Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Aspirasi to contest in Jepak by-election". DayakDaily. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  19. ^ Wong, Philip (17 October 2023). "Aspirasi names businessman as its candidate for Jepak". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  20. ^ Yussop, Yunus (5 October 2023). "PBK names Stevenson Joseph Sumbang as its Jepak by-election candidate". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  21. ^ Tawie, Sulok (5 October 2023). "Sarawak opposition selects former cop as candidate for Jepak by-election set for November 4". Malay Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  22. ^ Chua, Andy (21 October 2023). "Jepak polls: Three-way fight for Sarawak state seat". The Star. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
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