KUCHING: Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) is committed to promote and protect democracy in the country, thus it will not allow the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to win unopposed in the Jepak state seat by-election.
Its party president Lina Soo said even if the party’s candidate could only garner 10 votes, it means that there are people who are unhappy with the government.
“So, even if we can only win 10 votes, we want to ensure the voices of these 10 voters will be heard,” she said.
“Why should we let the seat be uncontested and give GPS a free ride? It is not an issue of winning or losing. But, to ensure the people can exercise their right to vote as we are living in democratic country,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
On Thursday, GPS chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof suggested that any hopefuls who wished to contest in the Jepak by-election on Nov 4 drop the idea (of contesting) as GPS is still the preferred choice of the Jepak electorate.
Fadillah, who is also deputy prime minister, however, expressed confidence that the party would still go on to win the seat even if there were to be a contest, and convincingly as well.
“So, if there are hopefuls, maybe they should drop the idea (of contesting). Let us win unopposed. It would be a waste of money. Keep the money, and save the energy. Wait for a much bigger election,” he said.
However, Soo argued that the money would be “well-spent” as it is for the benefit of the people and their democratic rights.
“It’s not about one election. We are in for the long haul. It’s about the future of Sarawak
“In the name of democracy, especially in a situation where political opposition/ presence in Sarawak is being reduced, we will carry the mantle and to offer the rakyat an alternative voice,” she stressed.
Last week, Soo had announced that businessman Chieng Lea Ping will contest in the upcoming Jepak by-election on Aspirasi’s ticket while Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) had re-nominated businessman Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, a former policeman as their candidate.
Meanwhile, Premier and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that former National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak director Iskandar Turkee will be the GPS candidate.
PBK President Voon Lee Shan said allowing GPS to win unopposed is “a way to kill democracy”.
Given the current political scenario in Sarawak, he said, technically, there is no opposition voice in the state legislative assembly.
DAP, he said, could not at the moment be considered the opposition voice in Sarawak, because at the federal level, GPS is a partner of DAP.
Thus, he claimed that DAP could no longer be an effective mouthpiece of the opposition.
In addition, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has also intended to merge with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – which would eventually be part of the GPS – if the merger materialises.
“Thus, we will not drop the idea of contesting in Jepak, we urge all the voters there to support our candidate, Stevenson Joseph Sumbang,” he said.
The Jepak by-election was called following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Talib Zulpilip of GPS on Sept 15.
The Election Commission (EC) has set nominations for Oct 21, with early voting to take place on Oct 31.
It has also been reported that a sum of RM2 million is needed to conduct the by-election, involving 446 election workers; 15 voting centres and 46 polling streams, including one early voting centre and early polling stream.
Based on the 2023 Supplementary Electoral Roll, as of Sept 15 this year, there are 22,804 eligible registered voters, where 22,761 are ordinary voters and 43 members of the police force.
