KUCHING: Youth leaders and members of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) in Engkilili have thrown their support behind incumbent assemblyman, Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, calling for him to remain as the coalition’s candidate in the next Sarawak Election.
According to a statement, the group said Rayong continues to enjoy strong grassroots support, pointing to the large turnout during the ‘Ngiling Tikai Gawai Dayak 2026’ celebration at Rumah Kennedy Langkang Ulu in Engkilili recently, which he attended alongside the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and several elected representatives.
They described the response from residents as a reflection of continued public confidence in leaders under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), while maintaining that Rayong remained well-accepted by the people of Engkilili.
The youth wing also noted that the Engkilili seat had historically been represented by different political parties, with Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) currently holding the constituency as part of the GPS coalition.
They said Rayong’s four terms as the elected representative had enabled him to contribute significantly to the area’s development, including improvements to basic infrastructure, welfare assistance, and rural economic progress.
The statement further described him as a leader who is approachable and consistently engages with residents through regular visits to longhouses and villages.
It added that development efforts in Engkilili are ongoing, and require experienced, stable leadership with a clear vision to ensure continuity.
The Engkilili PDP youth and local youths also pledged their full support for Rayong to defend the seat and continue serving as the area’s representative in the coming state election.
