By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, April 25: Could Sri Aman MP Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie become the next president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS)?
Speculation has been swirling following at least two recent online polls suggesting that the PRS Women chief is gaining traction as a popular choice among the grassroots.
If Doris Brodie were to be nominated and elected, she would make history as the first female president of PRS, and possibly the first woman to lead a major Sarawak-based party.
When asked about the possibility during a press conference after chairing the PRS Supreme Council meeting at the party’s headquarters today, PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum did not dismiss the idea—but clarified that such decisions rest in the hands of the party’s divisions.
“Yes, why not? However, when it comes to the popularity of individuals within the party, or who is seen as the most suitable to become president—that question was never discussed.
“If you were to ask me personally, I would choose Datuk Seri Doris as well. But others may not share the same view, and Datuk Seri Doris herself might not even be interested,” he said.
He stressed that PRS follows a nomination process guided by its divisions, and any leadership contest—including for the presidency—will depend on who the divisions choose to nominate ahead of the party’s Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) in October.
Meanwhile, Doris, when met and asked to respond to the growing chatter, said she was humbled by the recognition but emphasised that political leadership is not about popularity or personal ambition.
“It’s not about whether I’m given a chance or not.
“In a political party, nominations must come from the grassroots. Of course, for the sake of my pride and ego, it’s nice that people acknowledge me. But ultimately, it is the divisions who decide,” she stressed.
Having served in politics for 39 years, Doris said her focus has always been on service, especially to the rural community.
“Whether I’m up there or down here, I’ve been here since the party’s formation. Politics, to me, is not a career—it’s a responsibility.
“Positions come and go, but what matters is your commitment to your cause,” she added.
With PRS expected to hold its TDC in the third week of October this year, and all posts open for contest depending on nominations, the coming months will reveal whether Doris’s name will officially enter the race—or remain a talking point on social media. – DayakDaily
