THE victory of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the Jepak state by-election confirms the solid support of the people for the coalition, GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg said.

He said GPS also obtained 88.3% of the popular votes in the by-election, which it won through newcomer Iskandar Turkee.

“Of course, this is a sign that our people, especially in Jepak and Bintulu, accept the policies that we have planned and will implement,” he told a press conference after the announcement of the result in Bintulu today.

In the by-election, Iskandar obtained 9,638 votes to defeat his two challengers, Parti Bumi Kenyalang candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, who garnered 854 votes; and Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak candidate Chieng Lea Phing, who secured 431 votes.

Iskandar won with a majority of 8,784 votes, which is more than double that of the 4,243 votes garnered in the previous state elections, said Abang Johari, who is also Sarawak premier.

He said young voters who were casting their votes for the first time at the state assembly level in Sarawak also contributed to GPS’ big win in the by-election.

“We won in all the voting streams, including where there were young voters, in suburban, urban and rural areas,” he said.

On the low percentage of voter turnout in the by-election of 48.57%, he said it was expected due to several factors, one of which being some workers and students outside of Jepak could not return home to cast their ballots.

The by-election was held following the death of six-term incumbent Talib Zulpilip on September 15. – Bernama, November 4, 2023.