Letter to the Editor
By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan
As the nomination for the Sarawak Election 2026 draws closer, attention is turning to how Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) will fare this time around.
In the last Sarawak election in 2021—held less than two months after the party’s late founder Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing’s passing—PRS won all 11 seats it contested under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) banner. PRS leadership then had just transitioned to its former deputy president, Joseph Salang Gandum, as interim president.
When Salang decided not to defend his presidency at the party’s Triennial Delegates Conference held in Oct 2025, Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai and Wilson Nyabong Ijang stepped up to see who would win the party’s highest post. Sikie received 186 votes while Nyabong garnered 154.
As with any closely contested leadership race, the outcome left divisions within the party, and the coming Sarawak election could give lingering rivalries a chance to resurface and old scores to be settled.
Nyabong, who challenged Sikie for the presidency, is not expected to be renominated for the Pelagus seat. Masing’s nephew, Joseph Kudi Jantai, who won the Baleh seat previously held by his uncle, is also not expected to receive another nomination. Both have been making their rounds to strengthen their respective bids for renomination.
Several other potential replacements are already being discussed, either as part of a party ‘cleansing’ exercise or a broader leadership renewal. Some members may lose their candidacies after being displaced from party positions, while others could make way for younger faces after holding their seats for many years. This could create further tensions, particularly in constituencies such as Bukit Begunan, where incumbent Mong Dagang has held the seat since 1996.
Former PRS Youth chief and Balai Ringin incumbent Datuk Snowdon Lawan, meanwhile, no longer holds a party position after choosing not to defend his previous post. He had earlier withdrawn from contesting the deputy president position during the party election and remains Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts.
Given these potential tensions and changes, PRS may not enjoy the same smooth ride it experienced in previous elections. Anything short of retaining all 11 seats could put Sikie’s presidency under scrutiny, potentially defining his legacy as the party’s leader. The election results will serve as a measure of Sikie’s leadership and provide a basis for comparison with his predecessors, particularly Masing, whose tenure remains a significant benchmark in PRS history.
It has been almost five years since Masing’s passing, yet no announcement has been made of a planned memorial in his honour. Masing was more than just PRS president. He inspired many, particularly the Dayak community.
Although regarded as a ‘government man’, he was also willing to speak out against government actions he considered wrong. Many remember him as a powerful orator who could persuade even those initially opposed to his views to see things from his perspective.
Beyond politics, he was also remembered as a devout Christian and a proud Iban who left a lasting impression on the community.
Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair at UiTM.
This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
