BY AMYRA VARKISA & NATASHA JEE
SIBU: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) needs to be careful in managing its media exposure to avoid unnecessary speculation being made by outsiders which could tarnish the party.
Its newly-minted president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said that PRS has been in the media spotlight since the untimely departure of their founding president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
“All sorts of speculation are written about the party. Power struggle is good reading materials and cracks in PRS were anticipated to happen,” he said.
Salang admitted that PRS has been poor at managing its media exposure.
“We have different personalities who are leaders in their own right and they have different tastes and approaches in talking to outsiders.
“Some are media shy but others are quick to respond to media queries. This is normal and we have to recognise this sort of thing happens in every organisation.
“From now on let us all learn to coordinate the media releases more carefully so that there is no confusion as to what actually happens in the party,” he said.
On another note, he said that although PRS is a multiracial political party, it is a rural based organisation whose membership comprises mainly the Dayaks.
“The PRS members, especially the top leaders of the party should always keep reminding that what is happening in the party is a public reflection of the Dayak people.
“Strength and solidarity in the party will show that the Dayak people are mature in managing their own organisation, if the opposite is the case within the party then the general impression would be that we can only form a one president party,” he said.
Salang emphasised that PRS should not forget that public perception was important hence he urged their members to prove how wrong the naysayers were about PRS.
“I am glad to let our members know that we have come to this TDC in the spirit of comradeship. The leaders have all decided that the party is bigger than any individual or even group interest.
“We have decided to divide the responsibility of managing the party in a way it is fit to be a worthy partner in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and ready to face the coming PRU15,” he said.
Salang also extended his gratitude to Datuk John Sikie Tayai for having been such a statesman and graciously declining to contest for the presidency although nominated by the party divisions.
“I thank all other leaders who have in one way or another sacrificed to avoid creating cracks in the party.
“We have all won and let us from now on move forward to make PRS a party that looks after all members and is fun to be associated with,” he said.
