Johnichal Rayong Ngipa, the defeated Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) candidate for the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat in the recent general election, is challenging the result of the contest in court. 

In his petition, which was filed in Kuching this afternoon, Rayong, who lost by just 100 votes to Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s Roy Angau Gingkoi in a four-way fight for the Dayak-majority seat, gave three grounds to support his petition. 

Rayong, who is also PSB youth chief and the assemblyman for Engkilili, claimed that “general bribery, general treating or general intimidation so extensively prevailed that may have reasonably affected the result of the election”. 

His lead counsel Clement Wong would not disclose details of the alleged bribery, saying it would only be divulged when the petition was heard. 

Rayong, in his petition, stated that the alleged bribery was extensive. 

The second basis for appeal was the “non-compliance with the provision of any written law relating to the conduct of any election”. 

That, he said, was in relation to the refusal of the returning officer to process his request for a recount. 

“I don’t know why he refused. He did not give any reasons (for the refusal),” he told reporters. 

The third justification alleged a “corrupt practice was committed in connection with the election by the candidate with his knowledge and consent, or by any agent of the candidate” under section 32(C) of the Election Offences Act 1954. 

That related to the alleged late arrival of a ballot box at the Lubok Antu sports complex that was used as the tallying centre for a primary school polling station, a 45-minute drive away. 

Rayong said the school was “not even in a rural area” and since it closed at 5pm, there was no reason for the box to reach the sports complex four and a half hours later at 9.30pm. 

Rayong polled 6,544 votes to Gingkoi’s 6,644. 

The incumbent, Jugah Muyang of Perikatan Nasional polled 5,360 to go down as a one-term MP while the fourth candidate, Pakatan Harapan’s Langga Lias lost his deposit when he garnered only 746 votes. – January 3, 2023.