SRI AMAN, March 13: Several community leaders have described Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat’s decision to quit from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) recently and jump ship to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) as disgraceful and a betrayal of the people’s trust in him.
Pemanca Peter Mooney, a prominent community leader from Simunjan, said after all the hard work and sweat to help Masir become a three-term MP (in 2008, 2013 and 2018), grassroots leaders felt what he had done was unethical, morally wrong and shameful.
“We have given him the mandate to lead us but he left without giving due notice. So be it,” said Peter in a statement today.
“If he were being lured by other gains, I regret it. The rakyat will voice it out louder by replacing him later (next election).”
Penghulu Pelie Jumbu of Lower Simunjan and Penghulu Ali Danjie of Sebuyau, who oversee a total of 84 villages in Balai Ringin constituency, shared the same sentiments towards Masir.
Pelie and Ali said had Masir sought their opinions, they would have advised him against jumping ship.
“It is totally unwise and ungrateful of him to have made such a unilateral decision. He has lost his principles, honesty, loyalty and vision not only to the party but also to his supporters at the grassroots level,” they commented.
“Let it be known that now he is the one to be called ‘thorn in the flesh’. Make no mistake about this. He (himself) confirmed it.”
Penghulu Johnny Lumi of Pantu, representing the Iban community, said Masir was not being grateful by quitting PRS abruptly.
“It is narrow thoughts, unwise and not expected of. It shouldn’t have happened, more so now that GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) is in the process of consolidating within its fold,” he remarked.
He added that Masir does not deserve his (Johnny) respect, and he would not want to be associated with him any longer.
“We will move on without him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kapitan Lee Kim Onn, representing the Chinese community in Pantu, said by quitting PRS for PSB, Masir had forgotten his roots.
“He (Masir) came from us. His action is disgusting, disgraceful and does not reflect our wish. We mandated him. The party groomed him gradually but steadily, but he chose to betray the party and its supporters,” he said.
“I have no regrets for him, though surprised. I wish him all the best,” added Lee.
— DayakDaily
