Victory shows Talib has strong support in Jepak

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BINTULU: Datuk Talib Zulpilip’s success in retaining Jepak in the 10th state election represents a clear signal that the majority of the people in that constituency still wanted him to serve them and raise their standard of living.

The Bintulu MP’s political secretary Zaiedy Nor Abu Nasir told reporters at the vote tallying centre that the winning margin also showed that Talib had changed his approach in helming Jepak to remain relevant.

He also revealed that the results obtained in some areas turned out to be a surprise.

“For instance, the ballot boxes from some areas were earlier targeted to win but lost in the end.  We had also expected Malay votes to be divided but it did not. In fact, there was an increase in the number of Malay votes.”

In congratulating Talib, Zaiedy mentioned that PBB and SPDP had worked very closely to secure victory.

On Kidurong, he said basically everyone knew it would be difficult to unseat incumbent Chiew Chiu Sing from the DAP.

“Chiew has held the seat for 10 years already although his service is invisible. But the momentum of the voters was in his favour,” he said.

Zaiedy revealed that the SPDP machinery was mobilised to help BN-SUPP candidate Henry Ling wrest the seat from the DAP but Chiew turned out to be a tough nut to crack.

“I know Ling worked hard but luck did not favour him. But he must continue the fight.”

Meanwhile, PBB Jepak deputy chairman-cum-director of operations for Jepak constituency, Saidi Abang Samsuddin, said Talib had brought many developments to the constituency.

The victory also showed the rakyat could see that many issues raised by the opposition were lies.

Talib retained Jepak with a majority of 3,128 votes in the five-cornered fight. He garnered 5,470 votes while Abdul Jalil Bujang (PKR) and Ramli Malaka (SNAP) polled 2,342 and 433 votes respectively. Two independent candidates Abdul Kuddus Ramlee and Awang Abdillah Awang Nasar obtained 477 and 89 votes respectively.

In the last state election in 2006, Talib won with a 3,179-vote majority.

Meanwhile, BN-PBB candidate for Kemena, Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, also managed to retain his seat.

Dr Rundi garnered 6,369 votes to beat three other candidates, namely Bernard Binar Bayang Rading (PKR) who got 3,020 votes, SNAP’s Ungun Bayang (285 votes) and independent Liam Rengga (197 votes).

In Kidurong, Ling managed to get only 5,563 votes while Chiew roamed home with 12,493 votes. In 2006, Chiew won with only a 1,664-vote majority.