Jepak polls: Coalition partners campaigning together to ensure victory, says GPS candidate

KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component parties are working together to campaign in the Jepak by-election to help ensure victory.

GPS candidate Iskandar Turkee, from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), was joined by Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) on a visit to Rumah Lebung longhouse in Bintulu on Tuesday (Oct 24).

“Today we have friends from PRS coming along to campaign and help ensure a big win on Nov 4.

There is good camaraderie among the GPS component parties,” Iskandar told reporters during the visit.

He said the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) would also be going to the ground during the campaign.

“This shows the commitment of all parties to ensure that GPS has a bigger win this time,” he said.

Iskandar also said he looked forward to meeting voters along the campaign trail, including in longhouses.

“As a new candidate, it’s important for me to reach out and engage with the people. My approach is to be humble, friendly and natural so that voters can get to know me personally,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kennedy said there is good cooperation among the GPS component parties for the by-election.

“We will go down to the ground with the other component parties and coordinate our programmes with them,” he said.

He also said Iskandar had received a good response from the people.

“I spoke to the longhouse folk and they welcomed him as the best choice for GPS. We hope this will translate into a big victory on Nov 4,” he added.

The Jepak by-election was called following the death of its incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip on Sept 15.

Iskandar is facing a three-cornered fight with Stevenson Joseph Sumbang from Parti Bumi Kenyalang and Chieng Lea Phing from Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party.