To contest or not? PRS at crossroads over party polls this October TDC
PARTI Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) members are now in a dilemma. As much as grassroots members wish to see the party evolve into a more dynamic and democratic party, there are those in the internal corridors of power who wish to maintain the status quo via compromise and consensus.
The latest talk on the ground is that the party leadership—or at least the majority of its supreme council members—wants to avoid an election for the top posts, particularly the president's post.
But several leaders have hinted their desire to move up the party ladder, and are calling for open contests for all posts during the party's triennial delegates conference (TDC) this October.
Those who are opposed to an open election, party sources claim, are leaders who fear they might lose in the polls and consequently may not secure a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket to defend their seats in the next state or parliamentary elections.
Still, these leaders argue that PRS needs a president with clout—essentially an elected representative of the ruling government—which current president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum is not.
Some PRS members are of the view that the time has come for former Julau MP Salang to pass the baton of leadership to one of the party's five MPs or 11 state assemblymen.
For Salang, he has yet to publicly announce whether he intends to stay on as party president or step down.
He became president in 2022 following a compromise reached within the party leadership with then-challenger Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, and also partly due to members respecting the dying wish of former president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
According to some PRS members, Masing had expressed his wish for the party to remain united, with Salang—seen as politically neutral—the immediate choice as his successor. This was especially so as there were rumours then that several leaders were eyeing the post, potentially causing division within PRS.
Masing, who died on Oct 31, 2021, was a deputy chief minister and Baleh assemblyman at the time.
With the TDC taking place this year, there has been talk that a number of PRS leaders—six, according to party insiders—could offer themselves as candidates for the president post.
They are deputy president Datuk Majang Renggi, senior vice president Sikie, vice presidents Dato Sri Aaron Ago Dagang, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, and Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and ordinary executive member Wilson Nyabong Ijang.
Majang is Samalaju assemblyman and Infrastructure and Port Development Deputy Minister; Sikie is Kakus assemblyman and Minister in the Premier's Department; Aaron is Kanowit MP and federal National Unity Minister; Snowdan is Balai Ringin assemblyman and Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Deputy Minister; Ugak is Hulu Rajang MP and federal Deputy Digital Minister; and Nyabong is Pelagus assemblyman.
Snowdan, currently also PRS Youth chief, is perhaps the only one to have openly hinted that he could run for the presidency.
He told reporters after the PRS supreme council meeting last month that he would not defend the Youth chief post which he has held for the past nine years.
He said ahead of the TDC, PRS would engage its grassroots on whether or not there should be an open contest in deciding the party's leadership.
However, a few party branches were unhappy that there was no definitive resolution during the supreme council meeting as to whether there should be open contests for all posts during the October TDC. Word is that they may send a memorandum to party headquarters demanding for open contests.
According to PRS' constitution, at least one-third of the total number of party divisions across Sarawak is needed for the nomination of a presidential candidate.
However, the final decision lies in the hands of the supreme council, who may in the end decide to maintain the leadership status quo through compromise and consensus. gps party election politics president PRS TDC
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