KUCHING: The Jepak constituency has long been a stronghold for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) due to the effective representation provided by its late incumbent, Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
Political analyst Professor Dr Novel Lyndon emphasised that the candidate selection for this seat is not a major concern, as Pakatan Harapan has decided not to field a candidate, given their good relationship with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the Unity Government.
“The Jepak constituency is traditionally a PBB stronghold with a significant number of Malay and bumiputera voters, so there shouldn’t be any major issues in this regard.
“Additionally, the Sarawak Premier’s leadership is well-regarded, as he champions the rights of Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
According to Novel, the desired candidate for this seat should possess a winnability factor, maintain a clean personal record, and exhibit integrity.
“The candidate must also be accepted by the local people and be approachable without any unnecessary protocol,” he added.
Another political analyst, Dr Lee Kuok Tiung, echoed similar sentiments, noting that there is an additional factor contributing to the late Talib’s success in winning the seat for six consecutive terms.
“Based on past election results, it is evident that Talib’s opponents, whether from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Pakatan Harapan, or independent candidates, have consistently failed to match his popularity,” said Lee.
On September 19, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Mohamed Asfia Awang Nassar announced that a by-election for the Jepak constituency would be held following Talib’s demise.
Asfia promptly submitted an official letter to the Election Commission (EC) chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh, informing him of the vacancy in the Jepak seat.
The EC has scheduled a special meeting on September 25 to discuss important dates such as the election writ, candidate nomination day, voting day, and other preparations for the by-election.
Datuk Talib Zulpilip, aged 72, passed away at the Normah Specialist Hospital around 6 pm on September 15 due to an illness.
Talib, a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), held the Jepak seat for an impressive six terms.
In the 12th Sarawak Election, he secured victory with a significant majority of 4,243 votes, garnering 6,277 votes against his opponents Raba’ah Tudin (PSB), Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (PBK), and independent candidate Tuan Kazan.
