The 2023 Jepak by-election is a by-election scheduled to be held on 4 November 2023 for the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly seat, Jepak. It was called following the death of its incumbent, Talib Zulpilip by kidney complications on 15 September 2023.
This is the latest by-election in Sarawak after the 2017 Tanjong Datu by-election.
Background
Jepak is a state constituency in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and one of the four constituencies in the federal constituency of Bintulu. As of 15 September 2023, Supplementary Electoral Roll used by Election Commission (EC) for this by-election, Jepak has 22,804 eligible registered voters, including 43 voters from the police force. The significant increase of voters from 14,643 during the 2021 state election to 22,804 is due to the previous election has not implemented the UNDI18.
Talib was a member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, representing Jepak for six terms since winning the seat in 1996. He was a member of the supreme council appointed by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the current ruling party of Sarawak. He is also the chairman of PBB's Jepak branch. In the Sarawak cabinet, he has held the position of Junior Minister of Tourism and Heritage, and Minister in the Premier Office (Integrity and Ombudsman). Talib's poor health condition previously raised concerns among his party members in his branch, who urged him to step down and give way to younger candidates before the 2021 Sarawak state election. However he was retained as candidate by GPS-PBB in the election, successfully defending his seat in a 4-corner contest by 4,243 votes majority over his nearest rival.
Nomination and campaign
GPS through its chairman, PBB president and Sarawak Premier Abang Zohari Openg have stated on 21 September that they will defend the seat, but have not decided yet on the candidate.
Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (SEDAR) president has said on 20 September that the party may consider fielding a candidate in the by-election, but later on 23 September clarified his statement, and proposing a unified opposition to face GPS. Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman for Sarawak has said that his party have not decided yet to contest the election, and on 25 September announced they will not enter as a sign of solidarity to GPS, who are one of the partners in the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional led federal government. Although urged to compete in the election by fellow PH component party Democratic Action Party (DAP), who is in opposition in Sarawak Assembly, PKR stood on its decision. On 28 September, Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (ASPIRASI) announced through its president that the party will contest the by-election.
Candidates nomination day was announced by Election Commission (EC) to be on 21 October 2023.
