Kennedy Chukpai Ugon

Summary

Kennedy Chukpai Ugon is the PRS/GPS assemblyman for Murum (N.66) in the Sarawak DUN, a seat he has held since 2016 when the constituency was first created [1]). A Kenyah Orang Ulu and president of FORUM, he represents one of Sarawak's most remote interior constituencies, covering communities affected by the Murum and Bakun hydroelectric dams [2]. He has consistently advocated for rural electrification, infrastructure development, and border security connectivity in the Murum-Belaga corridor [3].

Biography

Kennedy Chukpai Ugon is the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) assemblyman for the Murum state constituency (N.66) in Sarawak's Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), a seat he has held since its creation in the 2015 electoral redistribution and first contested in 2016 [1]). He is from the Kenyah sub-ethnic group, one of the Orang Ulu peoples of Sarawak's interior [2]. Chukpai serves as president of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM), a body representing the diverse indigenous communities of Sarawak's upriver regions [2]. PRS, to which he belongs, is a component party of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition [2]. His constituency encompasses the area around the Murum Dam in the Belaga district, which displaced a significant number of Kayan, Kenyah, Kajang and Penan communities upon its construction [3]. He has been a signatory to the Bakun Charitable Trust, signing an MoU with Sarawak Energy Berhad in January 2019 to channel RM600,000 for the educational needs of dam resettler communities [3]. In the 2021 (12th) Sarawak state election, Chukpai was confirmed as the GPS candidate for Murum by GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg [2]. He retained his seat with 4,584 votes and a majority of 2,919 [4]. He has advocated publicly for rural infrastructure, border security roads, and electricity access for communities in the Belaga district [3].

Known for

Kennedy Chukpai Ugon is known as the representative of one of Sarawak's most geographically remote and infrastructure-deprived constituencies, the Murum seat in the Belaga district, home to Orang Ulu communities displaced by hydroelectric dam construction [3]. As president of FORUM, he serves as a prominent civil-society voice for the Orang Ulu community's economic and social interests [2]. He has consistently pressed both state and federal governments for rural development, electrification, and border infrastructure in the Murum-Belaga corridor [3].

Political positions

Chukpai has publicly advocated for improved infrastructure and electrification for rural communities in the Belaga district, lamenting the slow pace of development in the area more than 20 years after the construction of the Bakun Dam, with the Murum Dam following in 2014 [3]. He has called on federal and Sarawak governments to construct a 123km border security road and CIQS facility from the Murum Dam to the Long Nawang border post with Indonesia, arguing the initiative would also boost eco-tourism [3]. In the Sarawak DUN, he supported the bill to expand the number of state assembly seats, arguing that the increase aligns with Sarawak's vast geography and the historic difficulty rural communities face in having their voices heard in the legislative process [2]. He has also championed community entrepreneurship and cooperative development among Orang Ulu sub-ethnic groups through his FORUM presidency [2].

Political career

1. 2015The Murum state constituency (N.66) was created in the 2015 electoral redistribution, making it a new seat in the Sarawak DUN.⛓
2. May 2016Kennedy Chukpai Ugon contested and won the newly created Murum DUN seat under the Barisan Nasional banner, defeating DAP's Mathew Silek, PKR's Abun Sui Anyit, and independent Stanley Ajang Batok, with a majority of approximately 2,200 votes.⛓
3. January 2019Chukpai represented the Bakun Charitable Trust as a signatory at the MoU signing with Sarawak Energy Berhad, which allocated RM600,000 for the educational needs of communities resettled from the Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai dam catchment areas.⛓
4. December 2021Chukpai retained the Murum DUN seat in the 12th Sarawak state election under the GPS-PRS banner, polling 4,584 votes (47.1% vote share) with a majority of 2,919 over his nearest rival Stanley Ajang Batok (PSB).⛓
5. May 2023Chukpai held a press conference at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly calling on the federal and state governments to build a 123km border security road and CIQS facility from Murum Dam to the Long Nawang border post with Indonesia.⛓
6. 2025Chukpai spoke in support of the Sarawak state assembly seat expansion bill in the DUN, arguing the increase reflects Sarawak's vast geographical landscape and the longstanding difficulty rural communities face in having their voices heard in the legislative process.⛓

Election history

• 2021Murum (N.66)Won47.1%⛓
• 2016Murum (N.66)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentGPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg publicly confirmed Chukpai as the GPS candidate for Murum in the 12th Sarawak state election, linking his renomination to promises of continued development projects for the Belaga area.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Murum constituency was created in 2015 and has a population of 20,934 as of 2020, comprising 3 polling districts. Chukpai has won it at every election since its inception — in 2016 under BN-PRS and in 2021 under GPS-PRS with a majority of 2,919.⛓
• AffectedMalaysiakini reported that Chukpai and neighbouring Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang jointly lamented the slow pace of development in the Belaga district, more than 20 years after the construction of the Bakun Dam, citing inadequate electricity access for communities hosting the dams.⛓