MIRI – Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) will field a candidate in the coming Jepak state constituency by-election in northern Sarawak.
Aspirasi president Lina Soo today said her party has already identified a local in Bintulu to challenge the ruling state coalition of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“Our party has good people who are genuinely concerned with the sufferings of the ordinary rakyat.
“We have a candidate for Jepak and we will contest in the by-election on November 4,” she said in a press statement.
Aspirasi is one of numerous young parties in Sarawak that function as the opposition. However, Aspirasi operates independently and is not part of the main opposition bloc of Sarawak Pakatan Harapan.
The Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips) yesterday said that there should be a serious, fair and free contest in the Jepak by-election. But until today, there has been no confirmation from the state PH if they will field a candidate.
“There are many ordinary folks who are living in hardship. We are struggling daily in these difficult times and Aspirasi will offer them a voice to highlight their needs and concerns,” added Lina.
In the event Sarawak PH opts to sit out the by-election since PH is part of the ruling unity government at federal level, it will truly be a case of “David vs Goliath” between Aspirasi and the might of GPS.
The Jepak by-election will be on November 4, with nominations on October 21, and early voting on October 31.
The by-election was called following the death of incumbent assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip on September 15.
Talib, who was a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, was a six-term assemblyman from Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, which is a component of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak state government. – The Vibes, September 28, 2023
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