KUCHING – Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg remains tight-lipped on the coalition’s candidate for the Jepak by-election.
“Wait first. Ask him,” he told reporters while pointing in jest at Kemena assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
Dr Rundi is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president and his constituency and Jepak are among the four state seats under the Bintulu parliamentary constituency.
Nonetheless, Abang Johari, who is Sarawak premier, said the state’s ruling coalition is prepared for the by-election.
He was asked about the GPS candidate during a press conference after opening the International Conference on Biotechnology, Smart Farming, and Entrepreneurship for Food Security (BioSFE) 2023 here today.
Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) announced that the nomination day and polling day for the Jepak by-election have been set for October 21 and November 4, respectively.
The Jepak seat became vacant on September 15 following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
The late Talib is a former minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) and had served as Jepak assemblyman for six terms since 1996.
In the 12th Sarawak state election in 2021, he won the seat with a majority of 4,243 votes, after garnering 6,277 votes against his opponents Raba’ah Tudin of PSB, Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (PBK), and independent candidate Tuan Kazan. – September 15, 2023