Jerip Susil

Summary

Datuk Dr Jerip Susil is the Mambong state assemblyman in Sarawak and Sarawak's Deputy Minister of Transport, representing Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. A Bidayuh community figure, he has held the Bengoh/Mambong seat since 2011, navigating a party journey through SUPP, PSB, and ultimately PBB. His portfolio centres on Sarawak's major transport transformation projects, including the Kuching Urban Transportation System and the AirBorneo acquisition of MASwings.

Biography

Datuk Dr Jerip Susil is the Mambong state assemblyman in Sarawak, representing the constituency since its creation in 2016 (formerly known as Bengoh, which he held from 2011). He was born around 1957 [1]. A Bidayuh community leader, Dr Jerip holds a doctorate and has served in the Sarawak state government continuously since 2011. His party history traces a path from Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), which he left in 2014 alongside other leaders to form United People's Party (UPP) — later renamed Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) — where he rose to deputy president [2]. In July 2019, he resigned from PSB, citing the interest of Bidayuh unity and alignment with the GPS-led state government, before being accepted into Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) in October 2019 following a unanimous PBB Supreme Council decision [3]. He was appointed Sarawak's Assistant Minister of Transportation during a Cabinet reshuffle in 2019 [3] and was reappointed to the same portfolio after the 2021 state election [2]. Following a constitutional amendment in March 2022, his title was redesignated Deputy Minister of Transport [4]. In that role, he has spoken in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on the Kuching Urban Transportation System, the MASwings-to-AirBorneo acquisition, and the Trans-Borneo Railway feasibility study (Sources: thestar.com.my, freemalaysiatoday.com, thestar.com.my). He is also a PBB supreme council member [5].

Known for

Dr Jerip is known as a Bidayuh community representative who has held the Bengoh/Mambong seat across multiple terms and multiple party affiliations. He is a key figure in Sarawak's transport policy portfolio, overseeing major infrastructure projects including the Kuching Urban Transportation System autonomous rapid transit and the state's acquisition of MASwings via AirBorneo Holdings. His party switches — from SUPP to UPP/PSB to PBB — reflect the shifting coalitional dynamics of Sarawak's political landscape in the 2010s.

Political positions

Dr Jerip has consistently positioned himself as a supporter of rural development and GPS coalition governance under Chief Minister Abang Johari, framing his 2019 party moves as serving Bidayuh unity and rural constituency interests [6]. In his transport portfolio, he has advocated for expanding Sarawak's aviation connectivity, including direct international routes via AirBorneo, and has defended the state's ART public transit project as a pioneering initiative for Kuching commuters [5][2]. He supported the state's acquisition of MASwings to ensure continued Rural Air Service connectivity for remote communities [3]. During the 2016 campaign, he highlighted rural healthcare infrastructure needs in Mambong, pledging a clinic upgrade for Siburan [2].

Political career

1. 2011Won the Bengoh state seat under SUPP/Barisan Nasional in the 10th Sarawak state election, defeating PKR's Willie Mongin by 3,646 votes.⛓
2. 2014Left Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) along with other leaders to co-found United People's Party (UPP), which later changed its name to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB). Rose to the position of PSB deputy president.⛓
3. May 2016Won the newly created Mambong seat (formerly Bengoh) as a Barisan Nasional direct candidate in the 11th Sarawak state election, with a majority of 3,333 votes.⛓
4. July 2019Resigned from PSB as its deputy president with immediate effect, citing the interest of Bidayuh unity and alignment with the GPS government. Served as independent assemblyman thereafter.⛓
5. August 2019Appointed Sarawak Assistant Minister of Transportation in a state Cabinet reshuffle while still an independent assemblyman.⛓
6. October 2019Accepted as a member of PBB following a unanimous decision by the PBB Supreme Council, as announced by Chief Minister Abang Johari.⛓
7. December 2021Won the Mambong seat in the 12th Sarawak state election under GPS, polling 5,865 votes with a majority of 3,071 over PSB's Sanjan Daik in a five-cornered fight.⛓
8. December 2021Reappointed as Sarawak Assistant Minister for Transport in Abang Johari's new post-election Cabinet.⛓
9. March 2022Title redesignated from Assistant Minister to Deputy Minister of Transport following a constitutional amendment to the Sarawak constitution, which came into effect on 1 March 2022.⛓

Election history

• 2021MambongWon⛓
• 2016MambongWon⛓
• 2011BengohWon55.9%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari confirmed Dr Jerip's admission to PBB was a unanimous Supreme Council decision, signalling full ruling coalition backing for his political realignment.⛓
• OppositionSUPP president Sim Kui Hian maintained that the Mambong seat belonged to SUPP after Dr Jerip's move to PBB, stating 'A person can leave but the seat remains with SUPP.'⛓
• ExpertPolitical analyst Francis Paul Siah noted that Jerip's alignment with PBB was 'politically wiser' for him as a lone independent, while also suggesting GPS apply a direct-candidate formula for Mambong to avoid antagonising SUPP.⛓
• AffectedBiperoh Bidayuh community representatives urged Dr Jerip and the Puncak Borneo MP to give serious attention to outstanding issues including poor internet access and houses without electricity supply.⛓
• VerifiedFactsDr Jerip has held the Bengoh/Mambong seat since 2011 across three different party affiliations (SUPP/BN, PSB/independent, PBB/GPS) and has served as Sarawak's transport minister-level official continuously since August 2019.⛓