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MIRI – Sarawak Speaker Tan Sri Mohamed Asfia Awang Nassar has announced that a by-election for the Jepak state constituency in northern Sarawak will be held as it is now vacant following the September 15 demise of incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
Asfia today said he has just submitted an official letter to Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh informing him of the vacancy in the Jepak seat.
Talib, 72, passed away at the Normah Specialist Hospital around 6pm in Kuching due to an illness on September 15.
Asfia today said that since there are still more than three years to go before the next state elections (deadline February 14, 2027), a by-election is a must.
“In compliance with Article 21(5) of the state constitution, I have today submitted a letter dated September 19 to the EC chairman to officially inform him of the vacant Jepak seat.
“The EC will fix an appropriate date for the by-election, which will be within 60 days of the date it fell vacant.
“It is up to the EC now to convene their meeting and decide on the by-election date and processes,” he told a press conference at his office in state capital Kuching.
The late Talib, who was from Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), had held the Jepak seat for six terms.
PBB is a component of the state ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
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.
Jepak is located within the Bintulu district in northern Sarawak. – The Vibes, September 19, 2023