MIRI – Amid hesitation by the Sarawak Pakatan Harapan to confirm its challenge against Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the coming Jepak by-election, a lesser-known opposition party said there must be a worthy opposition for the sake of democracy in the state.
Parti Sedar Rakyat president Datuk Othman Abdillah today said the opposition parties in Sarawak must offer GPS a worthy contest in Jepak.
“For the sake of democracy and campaigning for the interest of the constituents and the rakyat, there must be an opposition candidate for the Jepak vacant seat.
“We opposition parties in Sarawak must convene a meeting and plan how we can face this by-election in Jepak to take on GPS.
“Maybe the opposition parties can unite under one big common opposition bloc.
“This Jepak by-election can serve as a platform for all opposition parties in Sarawak to unite for a common purpose against GPS,” he said in a statement.
Parti Sedar Rakyat was formed not long before the last Sarawak state election in 2021.
It contested in several state constituencies as an opposition party.
Othman said that during the state election in 2021, his party had worked hard and gained ground among grassroots voters when it contested against giants like GPS.
The candidates from his party had also worked well and cooperated with other opposition parties after that state election, he stressed.
“Our party still has good networking with other opposition parties including Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak.
“There are many common grounds for us in the opposition to work together for the good of the rakyat,” he said.
The ruling state government of GPS has confirmed it will contest the Jepak state by-election by fielding a candidate from its component party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said it is confirmed that PBB will contest the seat.
GPS is made up of PBB, Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
However, there is still a big question mark whether any Sarawak Pakatan Harapan coalition parties will contest in Jepak against the GPS which is the incumbent – since PH and GPS are partners of the unity government at the national level.
Even Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat chairman Roland Engan is undecided over the dilemma.
“We in Sarawak PKR are unsure whether we will contest in Jepak or not.
“As it is now, PKR and the other PH coalition parties (DAP, Parti Amanah) are partners in the unity government in Putrajaya along with GPS,” he said.
On September 19, Sarawak State Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohamed Asfia Awang Nassar announced that a by-election for the Jepak state constituency will be held as it is vacant after the demise of incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
Talib, 72, died at Normah Specialist Hospital around 6pm in Kuching from an illness on September 15.
The late Talib, who was from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) had held the Jepak seat for six terms.
Talib had held numerous important positions in the state administration including that of chairman of the State Economic Development Corporation, the business investment arm of the state government. – The Vibes, September 23, 2023
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