Newly-elected Jepak assemblyman calls for skills training institute in constituency

KUCHING: Newly-elected Jepak assemblyman Iskandar Turkee has called for a skills training institute to be set up in his constituency.

He said it was important to equip youths in Jepak with the relevant skills that matched the needs of existing and upcoming industries in Bintulu.

"Bintulu is set to become the hub for the new carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) industry as well as the production of hydrogen and other biofuels," he said in his maiden speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (Nov 22).

Iskandar also pledged to do his best to serve his constituency, particularly in facing the rapid development in Bintulu.

"I am confident that Bintulu will play an important part in contributing to Sarawak's economy and prosperity," he said.

In line with this, he supported the state government's move to take over Bintulu Port from the Federal Government.

He said this would spur further development in Bintulu and transform the port into a transport hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

Later, Iskandar told reporters he felt nervous about speaking for the first time in the state assembly.

"I'm grateful for the support and guidance from the other Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) assemblymen in preparing my maiden speech.

"I'm the most junior member, so they have been acting as my mentors," he said.

He expressed appreciation to the GPS leadership for allowing him to represent Jepak.

"I would also like to thank everyone involved in the recent by-election who helped to ensure a landslide victory for GPS," he said.

Iskandar, 54, won the Jepak by-election on Nov 4 with a majority of 8,784 votes.

He polled 9,638 votes to defeat Stevenson Joseph Sumbang (Parti Bumi Kenyalang) and Chieng Lea Phing (Sarawak People's Aspiration Party), who received 854 and 431 votes respectively.

The seat fell vacant when its incumbent Datuk Talib Zulpilip from GPS passed away on Sept 15.