KUCHING: Independent Lubok Antu member of parliament Jugah Muyang has attributed his win to Parti Rakyat Sarawak’s (PRS) internal crisis.
The former PRS Engkilili vice-chief cited the party’s sacking of his predecessor Datuk William Nyallau Badak and PRS deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun as the factor that produced swing and protest votes in his favour.
He also described his victory as a sign that the power lies in the hands of constituents and that Lubok Antu folk wished for him to be their voice in Parliament.
“I am on my way to KL. The crisis in PRS is a blessing in disguise for me. I have yet to decide on my next political move,” he said when contacted on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old Meteorology Department retiree said he is not a greenhorn in politics, as he used to accompany his late brother Andrew Muyang, who was Lubok Antu member of parliament in the late 1980s.
He said his close relatives, including defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Lubok Antu candidate Nicholas Bawin Anggat, are politicians or are very active in politics.
On his closest rival for the seat, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Robert Pasang Alam, Jugah claimed Pasang was not a PRS member initially and unknown to the constituents.
Jugah secured 5,834 votes, Pasang polled 4,776 votes, while Bawin received 3,942 votes.
The other triumphant independent candidate in the state was Julau member of parliament Larry Sng, who polled 10,105 votes against BN-PRS candidate and incumbent Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum’s 8,174 votes for a majority of 1,931 votes.
When contacted, Sng said he would only comment after the swearing-in of the Prime Minister.
Sng was a former state assistant minister and advisor to the Chief Minister’s Office when he was Pelagus assemblyman.
Subsequently he formed the Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) but stepped down as its president in 2016 prior to the state election.