Dr Jeniri Amir
KUCHING: Local political analyst Dr Jeniri Amir viewed the sacking of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, Datuk William Nyalau Badak and three other Supreme Council members as a “preemptive strike” by party president Tan Sri James Masing.
After openly making the accusation that PRS candidates’ name list was tampered on the way from Petra Jaya to Putrajaya, Masing held an emergency meeting for the party’s Supreme Council where he sacked Entulu, Nyalau, Nyempah Sabot, Edward Kurik and Adriana Chumang.
“Something more interesting is going to happen,” Jeniri predicted.
He described the move by Masing to sack Entulu prior to the official announcement of Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14) as preemptive strike.
When asked, he agreed that the move to sack Entulu, vice president Datuk William Nyalau Badak and three other Supreme Council member will affect PRS in the general election.
“Sure. (It) will affect. Definitely hidden hand is behind (it),” he said.
Jeniri also agreed that the storm in the teacup that started prior to last state election in May 2016 spilled over to the party Triennial General Meeting (TGM) in November 2016.
The clash between Masing’s and Christopher Gira’s camp with Entulu also affect the grassroots leadership in Tamin, especially among Tuai Rumah and Penghulu. A total of 187 Tuai Rumah and three Penghulu were allegedly removed for supporting Entulu.
Gira got the nod and soundly beat Ali Puji. Gira got 6,230 votes while Ali Puji who contested as an independent candidate managed 4,145 votes while Simon Joseph of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) received 954 votes.
The tell-tale sign that Entulu days were numbered were clearly shown during PRS TGM in November of the same year.
Entulu, who has been PRS deputy president since 2006, was suddenly challenged by Julau MP, Datuk Joseph Salang. Entulu won the contest but remain out of favour in PRS.
The sacking of Entulu from PRS and Masing’s action of doing so prior to the official announcement of BN candidates will surely ruffle some feathers.
Furthermore the vocal PRS president have insisted to a local news portal that, “The six names I submitted have been approved by BN Sarawak chairman earlier. So these are the six names approved by BN chairman Najib. Unless the name was miraculuosly changed while making its way from the desk of Petra Jaya to Putrajaya.”
Masing stressed that the only way the two PRS MPs who are not renominated can make their way back into the list is that the name list has been changed without his (Masing’s) knowledge as PRS president.
“Siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas,” he sarcastically jibed.