Sarawak Speaker to notify EC of Jepak vacancy

KUCHING: Sarawak Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar will submit a notice to the Election Commission (EC) of the vacancy for the N67 Jepak state seat following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang said that as provided in the Sarawak Constitution, it is the Speaker's responsibility to submit a notice to the EC about the vacancy.

"The Speaker will notify the EC so that the EC can issue an order, a writ for a by-election because there are about three years left for the current term," he said on Friday (Sept 15).

The state constitution requires a by-election to be held within 60 days from the date it is declared vacant, he told reporters while paying his last respects to the late Talib at the Normah Medical Centre here on Friday night.

Talib, 72, breathed his last at 5.50pm on Friday today due to kidney complications after being admitted to the medical centre on Thursday (Sept 15).

Talib, a former minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister's Office (Integrity and Ombudsman), served as Jepak assemblyman for six terms since 1996. – Bernama