MUDA to lead national challenge in Jepak by-election?

 No News Is Bad News

File pic for illustration of MUDA.

MUDA to lead national challenge in Jepak by-election?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11, 2023: Contesting in state and parliamentary elections is all about democracy.

Voters must be given a choice or choices whenever there is an election.

Like they say, there is no such thing as a free meal or walkover.

It is, therefore, welcoming news that Muda Sarawak is likely to field a candidate in the Jepak by-election.

This means MUDA would also likely be the only national political party to contest in the by-election with other state-based minnows.

For MUDA, it is not about winning or losing. They need to help uphold democracy and gain electoral experience to prepare it for the next general election which must be held in 2027.

Muda must build a strong political foundation if it wants to present itself as a viable and competent alternative to Malaysians, and to provide check and balance in the governance of the country.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the possibility of Muda contesting in Jepak:

MALAYSIA

Muda likely to field candidate in Jepak

Muda Sarawak says voters in the state constituency should not be denied a choice in the by-election

Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 11 Oct 2023 11:47AM

Muda Sarawak is discussing its potential candidate for Jepak and a team would be visiting Jepak - Pic from Muda Sarawak Facebook, The Vibes, October 11, 2023

BY The Vibes Team

PETALING JAYA - Muda said PKR's decision not to contest in the coming Jepak state by-election in Bintulu, was against the spirit of democracy.

Muda Sarawak information chief, Norashikin Baidawi said the decision was unfair to the voters in the constituency.

"Voters in the state constituency should not be denied a choice in the coming by-election.

"The decision by PKR to stay clear of the by-election is unfair and does not provide voters with choices," she said as reported by Borneo Post.

Sarawak PKR chairman Roland Engan had earlier said the party's national leadership in Putrajaya had endorsed the decision by the State PKR to stay out of the Jepak by-election.

"We in Sarawak PKR had officially informed the national leadership council of our decision not to field a candidate in the impending Jepak by-election.

"The national leadership council notified us that they support the decision by the state PKR.

"Therefore, our decision not to contest in this Jepak by-election will stand," he had said.

Sarawak DAP had also urged the state PKR to contest the by-election to honour the democratic process.

Jepak DAP branch chairman Tony Ung said that since Jepak was traditionally a PKR seat, PKR must contest against the ruling state government coalition of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Norashikin said the decision by PKR was merely for the sake of political stability at the federal level.

She told Borneo Post that healthy politics required checks and balances which cannot be achieved if only one party contests.

She also said that Muda was discussing its potential candidate for Jepak and a team from Muda Sarawak would be visiting Jepak and Bintulu on Friday.

“Muda Bintulu will go to the ground to meet the community and listen to the problems of the local people," she said, adding that though Muda Sarawak is a new political party, this will not be an obstacle for the party to contest.

Parti Aspirasi Sarawak (Aspirasi), Parti Sedar Rakyat and Parti Bumi Kenyalang had also said they would field a candidate in Jepak to take on GPS.

However, only PBK has confirmed it is fielding Stevenson Joseph Sumbang, 42, a former policeman for the seat.

Stevenson had contested in 2021, also in Jepak, but lost his deposit.

Aspirasi had said it would field a candidate but has yet to name one.

Its president Lina Soo had said that her party has already identified a local in Bintulu to challenge the ruling state coalition.

The Jepak seat fell vacant on Sept 15 after the demise of incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

GPS has since confirmed that its component party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu will field the candidate for the state constituency.

Nominations for the Jepak by-election will be on Oct 21, early voting on Oct 31 and polling on Nov 4. -  The Vibes, October 11, 2023