PRS faces leadership vacuum ahead of crucial TDC, says political analyst

Borneo Post

26-04-2025

Jayum says that none of PRS' lawmakers — including those holding significant roles in the GPS and Madani governments — have managed to distinguish themselves as natural successors to lead the party.
KUCHING (April 27): There is currently no clear frontrunner poised to assume the presidency of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) with ease, as the party gears up for its triennial delegates conference (TDC) slated for this October, said political scientist and Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan.
He said that none of PRS' lawmakers — including those holding significant roles in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Madani governments — have managed to distinguish themselves as natural successors to lead the party.
'They could be described by an Iban adage 'nadai kala didinga kukok' (never heard crowing) or 'enda ditemu pantuk' (unknown pecking strength).
'This goes on to confirm some earlier assertion that Masing's passing and his shoes were just too huge to fill, leaving a huge void,' he said in a statement.
Jayum noted that the upcoming TDC will mark a major milestone for PRS, being the first full party election since the passing of founder and president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing in Oct 2021.
'This will be a significant milestone in PRS' history since the passing of its founder president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
'It will be an important event for PRS moving beyond Masing's shadow as it will be the first time the party goes back to ask the grassroots whom they want to lead the party,' he said.
Following Masing's death, the presidency was assumed by Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum through a compromise aimed at maintaining party unity.
'After Masing's passing in October 2021, Deputy President Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum took over the presidency in a compromise reached to preserve the party unity.
'Salang himself had transitioned to Deputy President after Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun was sacked following his decision to announce himself as candidate for Selangau in 2018.
'But many within the party also believed that he was sacked because he is eyeing the presidency. His sacking stopped that,' Jayum added.
However, cracks remain within the party leadership, Jayum said, citing an insider source that divisions persist over whether the coming elections should be an open contest or another negotiated compromise to avoid internal splits.
'Although it has been reported that the party election is open, inside sources say that a compromise is still actively being pursued to prevent contest and fear division thereafter,' he said.
Jayum also questioned what form such a compromise might take.
'Would it mean retaining the incumbent Salang? Could it also mean that a leader agreed to by factions within the party? If so, who could be that 'compromised' person agreed to by factions within the party to lead it?
'In either scenario, it is still a compromise to prevent clashes among various factions. The coveted presidency decides the fates of all lawmakers and their positions in government.
'Thus, the compromise is not on who will be agreed upon to lead but all lawmakers would be trying to safeguard their respective positions,' he said.
He noted that the next Sarawak state election is on the horizon, making this leadership decision even more critical.
'The general elections to the Sarawak legislature is due in less than two years. The current term of the Assembly automatically ends after five years since its first meeting in February 2022. The elections were held in December 2021,' he said.
On the possibility of a female president, Jayum acknowledged the results of a recent online poll that placed PRS Women's chief Dato Seri Doris Brodie ahead of others.
However, he cautioned that the survey, based on general netizen sentiment, was not necessarily reflective of the views of actual party members.
'She had polled about 16 per cent, the highest, but the total votes was 88 out of about 500 netizen votes. That is not really convincing and not too much should be read into it,' he said.
Comparing PRS with other GPS component parties, Jayum said that unlike Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), PRS had failed to groom a clear second-echelon leadership.
'Should Abang Johari or Professor Sim were to go for whatever reasons, there are choices to take over from them. And this, as PBB has clearly shown, is their well-organised party.
'When Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem passed, Abang Johari was already in the wing. There was not much contest, and he just glided into the presidency. Masing did not prepare any one to take over.
'However, he did have an individual in mind but he was, according to an inside source, uncertain whether 'that' person could get the endorsement of other important party leaders,' he said.
Jayum stressed that the next PRS president must be a leader who can command authority both within the party and across GPS components.
'PRS needs a good and firm leader whose interest lies within the party to lead and bring PRS to the next level. His action must be motivated by party interest as he is equal to other party leaders and members and subjected only to his own party and by whose mandate the person leads.
'As PRS is a GPS component, he must be respected by other component leaders, and that his words are 'the authority' on who will represent PRS as GPS candidates in election and in government.
'Otherwise, the authority of the PRS president is undermined,' Jayum concluded.