KUCHING: A former supreme council member of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Edward Kurik believes that the sacking of five party members just before the 14th General Election (GE14) has greatly contributed to the defeat of the party’s three candidates in the May 9 polls.
PRS lost in three seats – Julau, Lubok Antu and Selangau- out of six seats it contested in the election. It won in Sri Aman, Hulu Rajang and Kanowit.
Prior to the election, party president Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing sacked several supreme council members, among them party deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, Datuk William Nyalau Badak and Nyempah Sabot, who is said to be a potential candidate for Julau.
“Nobody can deny that the unlawful sacking of the party supreme council members notably Entulu, Nyalau and Nyempah Sabot, has greatly contributed to the defeat in the three seats,” said Kurik, when contacted yesterday.
Entulu and Nyalau were the incumbents for Selangau and Lubok Antu respectively and who were rumoured to be renominated to defend the seats.
Kurik, who was among those sacked, pointed out that Masing did not listen to the voice of the majority party members when making the decision.
PRS only retained Kanowit through Datuk Aaron Dagang, Hulu Rajang (Datuk Ugak Kumbong) and Sri Aman (Datuk Masir Kujat), and lost Selangau to Baru Bian (PKR), Julau to Larry Sng (Independent) and Lubok Antu to Jugah Muyang (Independent).