BY TANIA LAM & JACINTHA JOLENE
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is putting the question of leadership aside to first focus on winning all its allocated parliamentary seats in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
Despite the void in the party’s leadership due to the passing of its president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, on Oct 31 last year, PRS secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu said the party did not want to rush into leadership transition just yet.
“The more serious need now is the preparation for the parliamentary election,” he said in an exclusive interview on Tuesday (Jan 11).
He said he had written to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) requesting for an extension to hold party elections.
“ROS said it should not be a problem. There was a circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs that all party elections – if not done – are to be done before June this year,” he said.
However, he explained that PRS had requested for an extension until after the parliamentary election, which some speculate could be held some time this year.
He added that this matter would also be tabled in the party’s Supreme Council meeting on Jan 22.
He said internal power struggles were not good and thus leadership transition was not a major priority for the party at this time.
“This is not the time for power struggles within because we have the war outside there waiting for us. Let’s win the GE 100 per cent – six out of six seats for PRS,” said Janang.
“Some leaders might not agree with me, but after the parliamentary election then we can strengthen ourselves, realign, and relook at the current leadership in the party.
“First, we have to reset, assess, then rejuvenate ourselves so that we become relevant. Then, we can look at restoring the confidence of the people, especially the Dayak people, towards PRS,” he added.
He said PRS must strengthen itself internally, especially to bolster the public’s perception after Masing’s demise left the party without a captain.
He said PRS had a big task ahead as it currently holds two seats out of the six allocated to it previously, namely Hulu Rajang and Kanowit.
The other four seats that the party hopes to recapture are Selangau, Julau, Lubok Antu, and Sri Aman.
“If we can score 100 per cent in the state election, we must also score 100 per cent for the coming GE. This is very important to us as a party, so that we will remain relevant,” he said.
Noting that PRS is a rural-based party, Janang said if they were under-represented, then the voice of the rural people would not be heard.
