KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) must identify the right candidates for the coming 15th General Election (GE-15) in order to maintain an advantage in their traditional seats.
A political analyst Dick Lembang Dugun of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) noted that the party could face a precarious situation in Lubok Antu judging from the current situation at the grassroots level.
“The current MP for Lubok Antu (Jugah Muyang) has the advantage to win in GE-15, but if PRS persuades him to join their party since he is currently party-less, then this seat can be considered safe for PRS,” said the lecturer.
As for other seats such as Julau and Selangau, he said if PRS does their homework well, they would stand the chance to take these seats.
He concurred with PRS secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu’s assertion that the six parliamentary seats allocated to PRS to contest in the previous general election were not up for negotiation.
“Even if there is delineation for new constituencies in the future, PRS should be given more parliamentary seats,” he said.
Dick said the main challenge faced by PRS was how they would continue the leadership of former PRS president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
“How will they perpetuate the spirit of the Baleh Tiger in their party? How will they express the people’s voice like what the late Tan Sri James did before?”.
He said this was what people wanted to see, especially among PRS supporters.
“PRS can be a successful party in the future if the leadership knows what to do, and I believe they do,” he said.
