(From left) Masing introduces PRS assemblymen — Sikie, Mong, Liwan, Malcolm, Snowdan, Alexander, Nyabong, Chukpai, Majang and Christopher. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing has refused to comment on the actions taken by direct Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates of late, particularly the decision by nine of them to apply to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Masing said PRS was maintaining its stance on direct BN candidates, which was unanimously agreed upon during the party’s supreme council meeting in March.
“Get opinions from SPDP (Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party) and SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party) on what do they think. I have said my piece, we have told our opinions after our supreme council meeting and our opinion stays. If they refuse to answer, that is an answer in itself,” he told reporters at PRS’ Pre-Gawai and Appreciation Dinner on Friday.
“In order to stand as direct BN candidates, the candidates had to resign from their parties, which they did. After that, to be part of the administration, they have to be part of BN component parties, which are only four.
“Ask them which party they want to join. I am sure they are bright and old enough to answer for themselves,” he said.
During the supreme council meeting, PRS had unanimously agreed to support Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s move to nominate direct BN candidates in disputed seats based on several principles.
One of the principles was that PBB would maintain its stated desire to resist the temptation of having a simple majority government after the election.
Masing explained that this meant PBB would not take more than 40 seats from a total of 82 seats, while for the 11 new seats, PBB would not take more than five.
The direct BN candidates to have applied to join PBB are former Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) members Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan, Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang; Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa from the United People’s Party (UPP); as well as Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh and Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus.
Earlier in his speech, Masing said PRS achieved 100 per cent of its key performance indicators (KPI) by winning all 11 seats contested.
“In fact, PRS has twice achieved 100 per cent KPI within two and half years. In the 13th general election, we got 100 per cent KPI as we won all six parliamentary seats allocated to us with convincing majority. I believe we could have won more state seats, if we were given more,” he added.
He also advised newly-elected representatives on proper conduct during their time in office.
“Be honest. Do not tell lies. In the next five years, you will be asked to help your voters on their various problems. Some of these problems can be solved by you. Some of them you cannot do. You are not a miracle worker. Your voters know it. You just tell them the truth on what you are capable of doing.
“When in doubt and you don’t want to disappoint your voters, the worst possible answer is this, ‘Nadai hal. Nya hal mit’. (No problem. It is a small matter). If you can’t do it, it will be a big problem. The voters have the memory of an elephant. They don’t forget,” he said.
Meanwhile, Balai Ringin assemblyman and event organising chairman Snowdan Lawan said the dinner was to celebrate the party’s victory and Gawai Dayak.
“With the theme of ‘Victory, Glory and Festivity’, this dinner is to celebrate the landslide victory for BN, which is a victory for all of us. It is even sweeter for PRS as we contested in 11 seats, including two new ones, which were untested ground and we won. However, victory did not come easy. It was due to the hard work of everybody, members at all levels that make PRS now the second biggest BN component party in the state,” he said.
Among those present were PRS assemblymen Datuk John Sikie Tayai (Kakus), Datuk Mong Dagang (Bukit Begunan), Liwan Lagang (Belaga), Malcolm Mussen Lamoh (Batang Ai), Alex Vincent (Ngemah), Wilson Nyabong Ijang (Pelagus), Chukpai Ugon (Murum), Majang Renggi (Samalaju) and Christopher Gira (Tamin).