GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak (GPS) has successfully retained the Jepak state seat with its candidate Iskandar Turkee having been declared the winner of the by-election tonight.

Election Commission returning officer Abang Zainuddin Abang Turkey announced the results at 8.30pm at the vote tallying centre in Dewan Suarah Bintulu.

Iskandar, 54, a former Sarawak branch National Anti-Drug Agency director, beat Parti Bumi Kenyalang candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang and Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak candidate Chieng Lea Phing with a 8,784-vote majority. Iskandar garnered 9,638 votes against Stevenson’s 854 votes and Chieng’s 431 votes.

Voter turnout was 48.57% in a constituency with 22,804 voters – 22,761 of them ordinary voters and 43 members of the police force.

The by-election was held following the death of six-term incumbent Talib Zulpilip on September 15. Talib won the seat by a majority of 4.243 votes in the 2021 state elections. – Bernama, November 4, 2023.