BINTULU: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Iskandar Turkee has clinched his maiden win in the Jepak by-election.
The 54-year-old is also the first Vaie descendent to represent the voices of Jepak in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Iskandar, a former state director of the National Anti-Drug Agency, secured victory with a huge majority of 8,784 votes.
He polled a total of 9,638 votes, defeating Stevenson Joseph Sumbang from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) who only secured 854 votes, and Chieng Lea Ping from Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (ASPIRASI) only garnering 431 votes.
The results mean both Stevenson and Chieng lost their election deposits.
Only Iskandar was present when the announcement was made at the vote tallying centre at Bintulu Civic Centre around 8.30pm tonight.
Also present to celebrate Iskandar’s victory was Premier and GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Premier and GPS Jepak Election director Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, and Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and GPS Jepak Election deputy director Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
The Jepak by-election was held following the death of Datuk Talib Zulpilip on Sept 15. The late Talib held the seat for six terms since 1996.
In the 2021 Sarawak state election, the late Talib defended the Jepak seat with a majority of 4,243 votes.
