KANOWIT: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) may field new faces in the coming general and next state elections, hinted its president Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
THANKSGIVING: Masing together with Gramong (second left) and Alexander (second right) cut the ‘pulut kuning’ (yellow glutinous rice) during the function. Looking on at left is PBB Batu Kawa head Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim.
He said this was based on the results of the recently concluded state election.
“There are nine of us (assemblymen from PRS). All the new faces obtained increased vote majority while votes for the old ones declined,” he told reporters when met on Saturday after he officiated at Barisan Nasional (BN) Kanowit ‘Thanksgiving and Appreciation Dinner’ at Kanowit community hall here.
Masing, who is Minister of Land Development, said those who saw a decline in their majority votes were himself at about 18 per cent, Tamin assemblyman Joseph Mauh and Kakus assemblyman John Sikie.
The new ones, he said, were Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan, Bukit Begunan assemblyman Mong Dagang, Batang Ai assemblyman Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Belaga assemblyman Liwan Lagang and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent.
“So you can see, from that indication you know the old guys must slowly learn to ship out nicely.
“Make a graceful exit. That is how I look at it. We must know the seat is not for us to keep,” he said.
On his own part, Masing said after serving for seven terms as Baleh assemblyman the slip in his vote majority was a very clear indication.
“All these years, mine (vote majority) was always 90 per cent…and suddenly it slipped.
“I know that we have to think about it. It is better for us to get away voluntarily rather than being kicked out,” he said.
He added it was not pleasant to be kicked out.
“You should know when to stop. That is the art of politics. Do not wait until the voters get enough of you and kick you out,” he advised.
On what has been the greatest challenge faced by PRS during the recent state election, he said it was finance as they were operating on a shoe-string budget although his party members were all high-spirited.
“That is why I advise other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to take nothing for granted. Even though we carry it convincingly, but please assist us.
“All we want is a meaningful participation in the state as well as the federal government. Meaningful means ‘recognise us for who we are and what our contributions to BN are’,” he said.
This he said was because the Dayaks now were not the Dayaks in the 1970s.
“There are new Dayaks who are very well-educated, they want transparency and they want to be taken for who they are.
“I would advise that BN must look at us in that manner,” he added.
The function was also to celebrate the victories of Machan assemblyman Datuk Gramong Juna and Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent in the recent state election.
About 800 people attended the gathering.