PN to skip Jepak by-election, focus on Kemaman

Perikatan Nasional has decided not to contest in the upcoming Jepak by-election in Sarawak.

Instead, the coalition will be focusing on the Kemaman by-election in Terengganu.

The decision by the PN supreme council was relayed by coalition secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin in a statement today.

Previously, PKR said it too would not contest in the Jepak by-election.

The late Talib Zulpilip from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), won the Jepak state seat by a landslide in 2021, winning 69.4 percent of the popular vote.

Both Pakatan Harapan and PN did not contest the seat in 2021.

Two opposition parties which did join - Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu - have since sided with GPS.

Besides PBB, only PBK has committed to fielding a candidate for Jepak, fielding former police personnel 42-year-old Stevenson Joseph Sumbang again.

During the 2021 election, he failed to retain his deposit in Jepak.

Other parties that have expressed interest in joining the Sarawak polls are Parti Sedar Rakyat and Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak.

Meanwhile, the Kemaman parliament seat was vacated after an election court ruled that there were elements of corruption behind PN's victory there last year.

PN decided not to appeal the court’s decision.

The opposition pact won Kemaman with 58.1 percent of the vote during the 15th general election.

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