BINTULU: The candidate from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) who will represent the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in contesting the by-election for the Jepak state constituency will be announced within three days.
Premier and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is to give time to some of the potential candidates to undergo the vetting process by the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“We have a few names already and they are being screened by the police and MACC. This is a normal procedure.
“We will refer to the police and MACC for records. So, if there is a problem, we will get a good and clean candidate with no record of undesirable offences.
“Therefore, I think we should be able to know (name of candidate who will contest in Jepak state seat) within three days,” he said.
The PBB president said this to reporters in a press conference after officiating at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) 2023 Northern Zone Special Convention at Bintulu Civic Centre here today.
When pressed further on the age range of the potential candidates, Abang Johari responded the party has considered the age factors as well.
“We have to also consider the age factor as well as the composition of the voters,” he said.
He added that the potential candidate for the Jepak constituency is also a local (from Jepak).
“The potential candidate will be local… can be a vaie (ethnic),” he said.
The by-election for Jepak constituency is necessitated following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Talib Zulpilip, 72, on Sept 15.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Oct 21 for nomination day and Nov 4 for polling.
The late Talib, who was formerly also a Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman), had served as Jepak assemblyman for six terms since 1996.
In the 12th Sarawak state election in 2021, he successfully defended the seat with a majority of 4,243 votes. He secured 6,277 votes against his opponents Raba’ah Tudin of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (Parti Bumi Kenyalang or PBK), and independent Tuan Kazan.
Thus far, both Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP), which are part of the Madani Unity federal government have announced their decision to not contest the by-election.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), on the other hand, has announced that Joseph Sumbang would be renominated to contest the seat.
