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N67Jepak seat in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2023 Jepak by-election was a by-election that was held on 4 November 2023 for theSarawak State Legislative Assembly seat ofJepak.[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 the2017 Tanjong Datu by-election.
Jepak is a state constituency in the Malaysian state ofSarawak, and one of the four constituencies in the federal constituency ofBintulu. 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 theUNDI18.
Talib was a member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, representing Jepak for six terms since winning the seat in1996. He was a member of the supreme council appointed byParti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is a component party ofGabungan 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 the2021 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 inKuching, leaving his constituency vacated at the next day.
On 18 October 2023, GPS throughPremier and its ChairmanAbang 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 local 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 thePakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional led federal government.[15] Although urged to compete in the election by fellow PH component partyDemocratic 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 formerRoyal 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]
| 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 |
| 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 | |||||
| GPShold | Swing | |||||
| 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 | |||||
| GPSgain | Swing | |||||
Iskandar, the winner of the by-election, were sworn in as the new MLA for Jepak on 20 November at the start of the Sarawak State Assembly sitting.[23] He subsequently joined PBB, and was appointed its chairman for Jepak branch on 4 May 2024, filling in the vacancy left by the late Talib.[24]
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