Nissom (sixth right) and other PRS members after the lunch meeting.
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is now courting partyless Barisan Nasional (BN) Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus to join the party.
The party’s Kedup and Tebedu divisions held a lunch meeting at a restaurant near Serian yesterday, where the matter was brought up in the presence of party secretary general Datuk Wilfred Nissom and supreme council member Snowdan Lawan.
According to PRS Kedup deputy chairman Ajon Nyabor, the proposal to invite John to join the party received all-round support from all those present.
“Since YB John Ilus is partyless now, we feel that he should consider joining PRS to be his platform in Barisan Nasional if his application to join PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) is not accepted,” he said when contacted yesterday.
PRS has yet to form a division for Bukit Semuja, a new seat carved out from Kedup and Tebedu constituencies which debuted in the recent state election.
A representative of PRS Tebedu division, Manny Ameng, said the party’s grassroots members were excited at the possibility of John joining the party, which would make the Bukit Semuja assemblyman the first Bidayuh elected representative in PRS.
Manny said he and other PRS members in Serian assisted in the campaigning for John in the recent state election and they played some part in securing victory for John who won by majority of 3,144 votes in a five-cornered fight for Bukit Semuja.
“We have many Bidayuh PRS members in Serian, both Tebedu and Kedup divisions included. But we are like children without any ‘amang’ or father (a prominent figure). This is why we welcome the idea of inviting YB John Ilus to join the party.
“PBB leaders have mentioned many times that the party would not exceed its current number of 40 state assemblypersons, and it will not go beyond this quota. We hope that the Chief Minister as the PBB president will consent to the idea of YB John
Ilus being admitted to PRS,” he said.
A PRS Chinese member in Serian, Siaw Siew Shi, said the party’s door was wide open to John should he consider to join the party.
“I received feedback from the partyless Chinese that they also welcomed the idea of YB John going to PRS. We in PRS open the door as wide as possible for him, and now it is up to him to decide if he wants to join us,” said Siaw.
Serian Iban Remun Association (Sira) president Eli Luntai, who was also present at the lunch, said he was also supportive of John entering PRS which is now the second biggest state BN component.
“Though I am representing the Iban Remun community, I agree with the idea to invite YB John Ilus to join PRS which would make him the first Bidayuh elected representative in this Dayak-based party. After all, PRS is now the second biggest component after PBB in the state BN.”
Nissom, when contacted yesterday, confirmed the proposal was brought up at the lunch which was also attended by some community leaders from Serian.
He said about 60 people came for the lunch, double the number they had expected.
“All those attending agreed to it (the proposal),” he said.
Based on recent news report, all the nine partyless Bumiputera BN assemblymen including John had applied to join PBB. The others are Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom (Pakan), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili), Dato Gerawat Gala (Mulu) and Miro Simuh (Serembu).
All of them had won their respective seats on direct BN ticket in the recent state election, and they were told they were free to choose any BN component to join after winning.
Chief Minister and PBB president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was quoted in a June 6 news report as telling these nine elected representatives to reconsider their move and consult their constituents on whether they should join PBB.
Adenan had also said they would be given until the end of this month to consult their constituents and they would have to report back to PBB.