BINTULU: The Dayak community in Jepak is urged to come out and vote for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Iskandar Turkee in the Jepak by-election scheduled for Nov 4.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice president Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai said despite the coalition party’s assured victory, the Dayak votes are significant in providing substantial support to GPS for the ongoing development in the area, which will indirectly benefit them.
“Even though it is a guaranteed victory (in the Jepak by-election), it is important for the Dayak communities from about 98 longhouses in Jepak to rally behind Iskandar.
“I hope that about 7,000 Dayak voters who comprise 35 per cent of the total voters in Jepak constituency, will give their full support to the GPS candidate.
“He has the potential to contribute to the economic and land development of Jepak. We hope that the Dayaks will not be left behind in any developments,” he said after attending a Randau Bersama Pemimpin programme at Rumah Joshua Manit, Sungai Setiam, Jalan Bintulu-Tatau this morning (Oct 29).
Also present were PRS Youth chief and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon.
On the issue of land development, he stated that many, including the native customary rights (NCR) lands, remain undeveloped.
The Minister in the Premier’s Department and Kakus assemblyman stressed the importance of addressing this issue to enable local residents to generate income through agricultural land development.
Sikie also highlighted the need to provide quality education, particularly in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), for the younger generation.
“This is because Jepak is a developing industrial area.
“So, it is necessary for our children to be equipped with TVET in order to be able to meet the demand for the required workforce.
“When they receive proper education, they will have various employment opportunities in Jepak’s developing industry,” he said.
The upcoming Jepak by-election will see a three-cornered fight between GPS Iskandar, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) candidate Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, and Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (ASPIRASI) candidate Chieng Lea Ping.
