Jepak polls: Ballot boxes arrive for tallying, GPS candidate leads count

BINTULU: Ballot boxes have started arriving at the Civic Centre in Bintulu for counting in the Jepak by-election after the polling ended at 5.30pm.

The first ballot box reached the centre at 5.49pm on Saturday (Nov 4) from Tabika Kemas Kuala Segan, one of the three polling stations that closed earlier at 4pm.

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There are a total of 14 polling stations.

The Jepak by-election is a three-way competition between Iskandar Turkee from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Stevenson Joseph Sumbang from Parti Bumi Kenyalang, and Chieng Lea Phing from Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party.

Iskandar is currently leading in the early unofficial count.

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As of 6.15pm, with two ballot boxes counted, Iskandar has received 338 votes, Stevenson has received 26 votes, and Chieng has received four votes.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the voter turnout was 46% at 4pm.

The EC is expected to announce the by-election result by 9pm.