COMMENT | Today, 22,804 Sarawakians in Jepak, a state constituency around the bustling town of Bintulu, have the opportunity to head to the polls. It is the first by-election in Sarawak since 2017, and the fourth by-election since the August state polls, excluding special elections due to 2022 election petitions.

This election is markedly different from other recent by-elections to date, in that, it takes place in Sarawak, in a state where the competitiveness of elections has significantly transformed and declined, especially since the formation of the unity government.

The two opposition parties are local parties, Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak and Parti Bumi Kenyalang. These are parties that emerged significant on the political scene in the December 2021 state election, only capturing a small share of the vote in these state polls as they focused on a pro-separatist message.

In 2021, pro-separatist parties, including Parti Bersatu Sarawak(PBS), captured nearly a quarter of the vote, a not-insignificant median...