PRS urged to embrace open contests for leadership positions at TDC

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) should consider the possibility of open contests for leadership positions during its Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) scheduled for next year.
Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan, a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and Adjunct Professor at Unimas’ Borneo Research Institute, believes that an open contest is essential for forming the strongest leadership team.
An open contest aligns with the values of Iban longhouse culture, where traditionally, leadership positions such as tuai rumah (village chief) are elected by all members of the longhouse,・he told the New Sarawak Tribune when asked if PRS positions should be decided by consensus or open contest at the upcoming TDC.
Prof Jayum added that preventing elections to select leaders undermines democracy and promotes autocracy, countering the principle of one person, one vote. “Wisdom comes from the many, not the few,” he noted.
Asked about the benefits and drawbacks of selecting PRS leadership through open contest versus consensus, Prof Jayum said elections help remove “expired” leaders, those who are ineffective, and those who may serve the interests of political opponents.
“Candidates should debate so that party members have clear choices on whom they want,” he added.
Highlighting potential challenges, he said that an open contest would ultimately strengthen PRS by bringing the best leaders forward, eliminating “deadwood,” and helping the party move beyond the influence of its late president, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
“The leader of PRS should have a direct endorsement from delegates, not rely on calls for uncontested positions to avoid splits within the party. This only preserves ineffective leadership,” he stated.
Earlier on Oct 25, the PRS Youth Exco unanimously supported an open contest for all party positions in the upcoming TDC. PRS Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan expressed that an open contest would rejuvenate the party.
Meanwhile, PRS Bukit Goram Division chairman Andy Lawrence indicated that as the TDC approaches, the party remains open to contested elections for all positions, depending on nominations received.