Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing
Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing says he would not want to engage in a discussion with anyone over their interpretation of his comment in a news portal that he wished to see the ‘best leader’ lead Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the next state election.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said this when informed by The Borneo Post that some parties viewed his comment as questioning the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is GPS chairman and president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) – the coalition’s backbone party which holds 46 of the 82 state seats.
“We have picked Abang Johari as the chairman and hence, the leader of GPS. No more discussion. Let’s give him our full support for 2021 (state election),” said Masing.
Apart from PBB and PRS, GPS also includes Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) as members, while United People’s Party (UPP) has adopted a GPS-friendly stand.
In its report, the local news portal quoted Masing as saying: “GPS must do away with the Barisan Nasional (BN) mentality and all of us from the four component parties must sit down as a family and decide what is there for us.
“Let us pick the best leader to lead Sarawak. If you are the best leader for Sarawak, then let it be regardless of who you are. And let’s not look at race and religion.” Meanwhile, reaction was swift yesterday with political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Jeniri Amir expressing his shock and disbelief that the PRS president would make such a comment, especially when the party was the ‘worst-performing’ component of the newly established coalition.
“Masing must start with PRS. He should be making the proposal (of having the best leader) within PRS first, if the outcome of last year’s general election is anything to go by,” he told The Borneo Post, referring to the party’s losses in Lubok Antu, Julau and Selangau parliamentary seats.
Jeniri also dared Masing to name the leader whom he deemed fit to lead GPS, adding that he has noticed the deputy chief minister often makes political statements that have ‘hidden agenda’.
“He should not be seen as having a personal agenda, and must start working together with the other GPS component parties for the coalition’s survival.”
Another political analyst, Prof Dr James Chin said Masing has become more vocal since the last general election because he knows PBB cannot afford to ‘bully’ him too far.
“PBB needs all Sarawak parties (to be) under GPS to ensure straight fights (with Pakatan Harapan) in the state election, under state nationalism (platform),” he reasoned.
For sociopolitical analyst Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, he feels that Masing’s comment may have been calculated to stir the hornet’s nest within the coalition, and suggested there may perhaps be some ‘fundamental differences’ within GPS.
“It has definitely invited various interpretations from members of the public, as well as Masing’s own colleagues in GPS,” he said.
GPS was formed in June last year after PBB, PRS, SUPP and PDP announced they were leaving BN following the coalition’s loss to PH in the general election.
Masing, based on previous news reports, had cautioned GPS against using the same approach and formula as BN Sarawak if it hoped to win the heart of Sarawakian voters.