Chieng Jin Ek

Summary

Joseph Chieng Jin Ek (born 17 February 1975) is the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) Member of the State Legislative Assembly for Bukit Assek, Sibu, having won the seat in the 12th Sarawak State Election in December 2021 with a majority of 874 votes. He is also a SUPP vice president elected in May 2022 and serves as the Sarawak assistant chef de mission for volleyball. His legislative focus has centred on local infrastructure, healthcare access, and a long-term redevelopment plan for the Bukit Assek area of Sibu.

Biography

Joseph Chieng Jin Ek (Chinese: 钱进一; born 17 February 1975) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Bukit Assek since December 2021 [1]. He is a member of the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), a component party of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition in Sarawak [1]. Prior to his election, Chieng served as SUPP Bukit Assek youth chief and as a local councillor in Sibu [2]. In the 12th Sarawak State Election held on 18 December 2021, Chieng won the Bukit Assek seat in a six-cornered fight, garnering 4,684 votes (16.9% share) and defeating DAP incumbent Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling with a majority of 874 votes [3]. In May 2022, he was elected as one of four SUPP vice presidents at the party's triennial delegates conference [4]. As assemblyman, Chieng has been active in constituency development — allocating Minor Rural Project (MRP) funds for local infrastructure, participating in Sibu Municipal Council events, and advocating in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for a long-term redevelopment plan for the Bukit Assek area [5]. He also serves as Sarawak's assistant chef de mission for volleyball [5].

Known for

Chieng Jin Ek is known for wresting the Bukit Assek seat from DAP in the 2021 Sarawak State Election, ending the opposition's hold on the constituency in a competitive six-way race [5]. Within SUPP, he rose to become one of four party vice presidents elected in May 2022, marking his entry into the party's central leadership [4]. His tenure has been focused on local infrastructure, healthcare access, and a flagship long-term redevelopment plan for the Bukit Assek area of Sibu [2].

Political positions

Chieng has publicly advocated for improved healthcare access in Bukit Assek, calling for the construction of a new health clinic to relieve overcrowding at the Jalan Oya Health Clinic, which he noted serves up to 1,800 patients daily including those from Kanowit and Julau districts [2]. On infrastructure, his stated priorities include new road construction, affordable housing, flood mitigation at Kampung Sentosa, and a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the constituency [2]. Speaking during the debate on the Sarawak 2026 Budget, Chieng advocated for a 15-to-20-year Bukit Assek redevelopment roadmap beginning in 2026, to be implemented by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) in collaboration with international consultant Ramboll, with the redevelopment area expanded from 497 acres to 830 acres [2]. As a GPS-SUPP assemblyman operating within the ruling coalition, his positions align with the Sarawak state government's development agenda.

Before politics

1. By 2014Chieng Jin Ek served as a local councillor in Sibu and was active in SUPP's Bukit Assek branch during a period of internal party turbulence following the departure of a senior party leader.⛓
2. By December 2021Held the position of SUPP Bukit Assek youth chief prior to contesting the 12th Sarawak State Election.⛓

Political career

1. 18 December 2021Won the Bukit Assek state seat in the 12th Sarawak State Election under the GPS-SUPP banner, defeating five other candidates including DAP incumbent Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling with a majority of 874 votes.⛓
2. May 2022Elected as one of four SUPP vice presidents at the party's triennial delegates conference, marking his entry into the SUPP central leadership.⛓
3. June 2024As Bukit Assek assemblyman, allocated a RM50,000 Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund for the installation of an LED panel system at the Sibu Indoor Volleyball Stadium at Rejang Park, the SUKMA 2024 volleyball venue.⛓
4. November 2025During debate on the Sarawak 2026 Budget at the State Legislative Assembly, advocated for a 15-to-20-year Bukit Assek redevelopment roadmap beginning in 2026, with the redevelopment area expanded to 830 acres in collaboration with international consultant Ramboll.⛓

Election history

• 2021Bukit Assek (N51)Won16.9%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsChieng Jin Ek won the Bukit Assek seat in the 2021 Sarawak State Election with 4,684 votes (16.9% share) and a majority of 874 in a six-cornered fight, as confirmed by both Bernama and The Star.⛓
• VerifiedFactsChieng was elected as one of four SUPP vice presidents at the party's May 2022 triennial delegates conference, as reported by Malay Mail.⛓
• OppositionSarawak DAP deputy chairman David Wong Kee Woan acknowledged full responsibility for DAP's loss of the Bukit Assek seat to Chieng Jin Ek of GPS in the 2021 state election, attributing it in part to split votes among opposition parties.⛓