KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Iskandar Turkee’s experience as a civil servant is definitely an added value for him to serve the people in the Jepak constituency.
Political analyst Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said Iskandar, who is known for his role as the director of National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) Sarawak, has also made several media appearances for his efforts to help former addicts start a new life.
“I believe his selection was also influenced by his role in handling drug abuse and his involvement in planning and implementing efforts to rehabilitate drug addicts and awareness campaigns among the public.
“His main challenge is on how to transform himself from a public service officer to a politician.
“The late Jepak incumbent, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, is a prominent leader in Jepak with plenty of loyal supporters.
“He (Iskandar) needs to ensure that he gets their blessing to replace the late Talib to avoid sabotage,“ Lee told New Sarawak Tribune on Wednesday (Oct 18).
Earlier, GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, announced Iskandar as the candidate to represent GPS in the Jepak by-election on Nov 4.
Iskandar, 54, is also a panel member of the Sarawak Social Council and a committee member of the One Stop Committee Tackling Drug Issue in Sarawak as well as the Malaysia Anti-Drug Association (Pemadam) Sarawak.
To date, three names have been confirmed to run for the Jepak seat ahead of the nomination day scheduled this Saturday (Oct 21), including Iskandar. Stevenson Joseph Sumbang is representing Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) while Chieng Lea Ping is representing the People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi).
Lee said there will be an obvious noticeable gap in the fight in terms of the influence of those names and the opposition is likely to lose their deposits.
“Stevenson, a former police personnel who is now a businessman contested in 2021, but only managed to get 587 votes.
“Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have declared that they will not contest.
“The only concern is that there could be leaders and followers from the parties not contesting secretly helping the candidates against GPS’ candidate,” he added.
Voters in Jepak will cast their votes on Nov 4 in the by-election, with early voting set on Oct 31, following the demise of the late Talib on Sept 15.
