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MIRI - Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat has made a final decision not to contest in the coming Jepak state by-election in Bintulu, near here, said its state chairman Roland Engan.
He said the party's national leadership in Putrajaya had since endorsed the decision by the State PKR to stay out of the Jepak by-election.
"We in Sarawak PKR had officially informed the national leadership council of our decision not to field a candidate in the impending Jepak by-election.
"The national leadership council notified us that they support the decision by the state PKR.
"Therefore, our decision not to contest in this Jepak by-election will stand," he told reporters here.
This final decision by the PKR was taken despite calls by Sarawak DAP that PKR must contest the Jepak by-election for the sake of honouring the democratic process.
On Sept 29, a state DAP grassroots leader made a call on Sarawak PKR to reconsider its decision not to contest the Jepak by-election.
Jepak DAP branch chairman Tony Ung said that since Jepak was traditionally a PKR seat, PKR must contest against the ruling state government coalition of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Earlier, Parti Aspirasi Sarawak (Aspirasi), Parti Sedar Rakyat and Parti Bumi Kenyalang had said they would field a candidate in Jepak to take on GPS.
However, to date, only PBK has confirmed it is fielding Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, 42, a former policeman for the seat.
Stevenson had contested in 2021, also in Jepak, but lost his deposit.
Aspirasi had said it would field a candidate but has yet to name one.
Its president Lina Soo today said her party has already identified a local in Bintulu to challenge the ruling state coalition.
The Jepak seat fell vacant on Sept 15 after the demise of incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip.
GPS has since confirmed that its component party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu will field the candidate for the state constituency.
Nominations for the Jepak by-election will be on Oct 21, early voting on Oct 31 and polling on Nov 4. - The Vibes, October 9, 2023