KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should consider Sri Aman MP Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie and Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong from the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) for the federal deputy ministerial positions in the new cabinet, says Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The PRS youth chief also said that given that the unity government was now considering the nomination of deputy ministers, he has recommended the two MPs for portfolios that the Prime Minister considered appropriate for representing Sarawak’s rural indigenous people.
“With Doris’ nomination, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) provisions requiring indigenous people from Sarawak, particularly women, to have representation at the federal level will be partially met.
“As a PRS Women’s chief now, her rank and file rise in politics is not new to her ever since she first joined Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) then until PRS now,” he said in a statement.
Despite being a first-time candidate, Doris won the Sri Aman parliamentary seat during the recent 15th general election (GE15) with a commanding majority of 4,039 votes after receiving 14,131 votes against her closest rival PSB Walsin@ Wilson Entabang (10,092 votes) and unseating three-term independent incumbent Masir Kujat (5,673 votes) and Pakatan Harapan Tay Wei Wei (2021 votes).
He added that Doris’ experience with the federal government dated back to March 2010, when she was appointed as a senator. In 2016, she completed two terms as deputy speaker of the House of Senate.
“Back in Sarawak here, and prior to the GE15 she still held a post as political secretary, reporting directly to our Premier current issues surrounding the Sri Aman Division,” he said.
As for Datuk Wilson Ugak, he said that he is their three term incumbent and had been a party loyalist and PRS current party’s vice president in so far is party ranking is concerned.
Ugak garnered a very strong grassroots’ support, also by a convincing majority of 7,505 votes in the Hulu Rajang parliamentary seat in the GE15.
In April 2020, Ugak was also the first Iban to be appointed as National Occupational Safety and Health Institute (NIOSH) chairman.
“In the last GE15, PRS performed well by winning five out of the six seats contested and was able to wrest back three lost seats of Selangau, Lubok Antu and Sri Aman.
“Selangau was won by GPS Edwin Banta and Lubok Antu by Roy Gingkoi, who is regarded as the giant killer defeating incumbent MP Jugah Muyang and Engkilili assemblyman Johnical Rayong who stood as candidate simultaneously.
“We sincerely hope that our PM will give due consideration and serious thoughts to rural based parties like ours in order to present their voices in a truly unity government as depicted earlier,” he said.
