BY TANIA LAM & JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is determined to strengthen and rejuvenate itself to remain relevant and united.
The party is committed to upholding and continuing the struggle of its former president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, who passed away on Oct 31 last year.
As a rural-based party, PRS remains steadfast in being a voice for the rural folk and fighting for Dayak interests and development.
It has certainly proven itself a force to be reckoned with following its resounding victory in the recently concluded 12th Sarawak state election (PRN12), securing all 11 seats contested by the party under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.
New Sarawak Tribune recently interviewed PRS secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu for his insight on the party’s performance in PRN12, its struggle and hopes.
New Sarawak Tribune: Could you comment on PRS’ victory in all 11 seats contested in PRN12?
Janang: It is a sweet victory for PRS. Overall, we are quite satisfied with the results. I have never been involved directly in the election before this, but because of the untimely departure of our late Tan Sri president, I had to be on the ground. Datuk Joseph (PRS acting president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum) and I had been given the mandate to spearhead the election machinery of our party.
I must thank Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for his support throughout the election. Whatever we needed, he gave. For instance, when we needed him to come to Ngemah to have a special function to build up the campaign machinery, he was willing to come and took the time to fly to Ngemah. I think that was very significant because that changed the political climate at that time.
I must also express our appreciation for the support of the whole GPS machinery, they really gave us support – not only moral support but also physical support. As we know, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is the backbone of GPS and PBB had also lent very strong support to us.
They recognised our emptiness at that time, with the passing of our party president. Before the election, when we submitted our list of candidates, we sought the advice of the chief minister. He recognised that we were like an orphan and he said not to worry and that he would give us the support. Indeed, he was true to his word.
But overall, in the election results, we managed to score 100 per cent in terms of percentage of seats allocated and won. Even though other component parties garnered more seats compared to us, then again, they were given more seats to contest.
What were some of the challenges PRS faced in PRN12?
Our late president had just passed away at the time and there was some effect from this.
It was a tough fight, especially for the new candidates. Ngemah was really tough. Datuk Joseph and I spent almost five days – about half of the campaigning period – in Ngemah. On the last few days, Datuk Joseph even had to stay back in Ngemah to make sure that we were able to win the seat.
Some of the areas which we used to win with quite a big majority also saw a drop in majority. For example, we thought we could win quite easily in Balai Ringin, but it turned out to be a tough fight for us. We also saw a drop in majority in Bukit Begunan.
However, YB Christopher Gira Sambang showed a good result. It was quite a challenging seat because it was a one-to-one fight against our ex-deputy president (Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun). It turned out to be a resounding victory in Tamin.
We were confident for Samalaju and it scored the highest majority among all the seats won by PRS.
As we can see, the majorities dropped in the various areas, except Samalaju and Tamin. It was a very challenging election for us, but it was a sweet victory.
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum recently mentioned the party’s hope for better representation in the State Cabinet if the chief minister realigns or fine tunes it. Could you comment on this?
I was there at the GPS appreciation dinner when he (Salang) mentioned this in his speech. His intonation was not pressuring the chief minister; the tone of his request was ‘in the event’. The Cabinet has been sworn in and there is nothing much which can be changed at this point of time. In the event that there is some realignment to suit the needs in the future, he requested for us to be considered. As Datuk Joseph said, he is not complaining but rather asking for consideration in the next realignment or restrategising.
Looking at it in terms of percentage or score – yes you must reward PBB because they scored 100 per cent by winning all 47 seats they contested. We also scored 100 per cent in all our allocated seats. In the previous government, we were rewarded handsomely because we scored 100 per cent.
We believe the chief minister has his own wisdom and strategy in forming the Cabinet. We leave it to him. But if there is a realignment next time, these things should be looked into.
Some people say there is no hope for PRS to get back the Deputy Chief Minister post, but I think there is still hope. And the chief minister was saying that after we tidy up our leadership and all that, probably he can look at it again. This does not mean that the chief minister will give it (DCM post) to us or that we are demanding the post.
For instance, Datuk John Sikie Tayai could perhaps be appointed to a more meaningful portfolio in the future. The portfolio he is currently holding is Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department and that is very general. There could also be additional assistant ministers from PRS as some of our YBs (elected representatives) are also qualified and capable people.
I believe that the chief minister is taking all this into account and I believe in his wisdom; he is a fair and reasonable person, and he is very supportive of us.
Other than the Cabinet, there could be other appointed posts which may be given later on, such as chairmanships in government-linked companies.
Nevertheless, we are governed by our Constitution. I was made to understand that there could be a Constitutional amendment to expand the Cabinet. At the moment, we are only allowed to have 10 ministers, so the quota is full.
Some people have been talking about the chief minister holding so many portfolios, but if you look at it from another angle, actually it is cost-saving for the state. This is because he only receives one salary as the chief minister, but he is carrying out three portfolios.
So there is the Constitution and the financial commitment that we have to look at.
How soon would you expect the Constitution to be amended to accommodate more than 10 ministers?
I am not privy to this, but I have heard that it may be amended. I think the first sitting of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) will be in February, so my guess is they could probably bring it up then.
If it is approved – which should not be a problem as we (GPS) are holding 76 seats – then it will be gazetted in the next DUN sitting. Once gazetted, then it can be implemented. So I think if this happens, the soonest would be some time in June.
Will PRS continue the struggle and plans of the late Masing?
PRS is very synonymous with Tan Sri James. Tan Sri James is PRS because he is the founder of PRS. He had been involved in politics since 1983 and he had been in the opposition and the government. In the last decades of his political involvement, he was in the government.
Whether he was in the opposition or the government, his struggle remained the same – fighting for Dayak interests. This is the legacy that he has left for the people of Sarawak, especially in the rural areas. I used to travel with him to look at development, especially in the rural areas.
If people say that he doesn’t fight for the Dayaks, I think that is wrong. His principle and struggle were always for the community. He always had the spirit to fight for the Dayaks and that is where he got the support. And before he left, the highest position he held was deputy chief minister, and this struggle was still inside him.
In the new generation of PRS and Dayak leaders, we hope to see that spirit of fighting for the upward development of the Dayak community in terms of physical development, education, fighting against poverty and creating economic activities in the rural areas.
I want to share something very personal which happened two days before Tan Sri James passed away. I had a dream that I was in a helicopter with only him. I knew he was not well, but in the dream, he looked so young and so vibrant. He was looking out of the wide window of the helicopter and he said, “Janang, look at all of this, so beautiful – and this is our responsibility.”
That was his last message to me in my dream – that this is our responsibility. The responsibility is for us to keep Sarawak and the people of Sarawak out of poverty. Things that need development, we should plan for them.
While he was Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, he had planned so much physical development – Second Trunk Road about RM6 billion, Coastal Road about RM6 billion, and the connection of the Kapit Road happened during his time as well.
Kapit Road is not an easy thing to do due to the geographical condition. It is not like Peninsular Malaysia which is flat. You cannot measure how much it costs by kilometre as the terrain is difficult. It is always the technical and financial considerations which must be taken into account. But Tan Sri James said we must do it.
Aside from such developments, he also went to Long Singut to look into the plight of the people there. There are so many people there without Identity Cards (IC), even though we have been in Malaysia for almost 60 years.
This is the struggle that has been in his blood, while he was in the opposition and also in the government. So PRS must ride on this and continue this struggle. It is for the interest of the people and development of the nation.
What are your hopes for PRS?
Firstly, my hope for PRS is that it should be getting stronger each day rather than weaker. Our motto is always ‘united we stand, divided we fall’. Let’s strengthen the party by whatever means we can and grow stronger every day as a party, not as an individual.
Secondly, I hope for more young Dayak professionals to come and join PRS. This is the time that we have to get ourselves united. Let’s continue together in resetting, rejuvenating, and restrategising the party towards achieving a better and stronger PRS.
