Letter to the Editor
By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is faced with the greatest challenge to find a tuai or pengulu who is a ‘leader’. The only political party dominated and led by Ibans, it is at a crossroads come Oct 18 and 19 when it holds its Triennial Delegates’ Conference (TDC), where its members must elect a new president.
A leader is more than a person winning an important position. The winner sets the vision and mission for the party moving forward under his watch. So far, there is no clear vision and mission set by contenders for the key positions, whether that be for the presidency, Youth or Women chiefs.
What does Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai have in store for the party should he win? Likewise, what does Wilson Nyabong Ijang want to do for the party if he is elected? The visions and missions of either candidate are not clear. Neither are the visions and missions of contenders for the Youth and Women chief positions.
Thus, party delegates do not have a clear guide by which to vote for those offering themselves for leadership positions. As it appears, the challenges are overwhelming as the party is refuted to be driving Ibans in Sarawak’s political theatre. What acts and scripts are in store that would be consistent in promoting the political, economic, and social well-being of Dayaks through PRS?
There are some stakes in play should either Sikie or Nyabong win. If Sikie wins, he does not stand to gain much, as there is no higher office that he can aspire to. Perhaps he may have thought of the deputy premiership because his late party president, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, was at one time one of three deputy chief ministers.
On the other hand, for Nyabong, he has much to gain. He is an ordinary Supreme Council member and an ordinary member of the Sarawak Assembly. He has no government position. If he wins the presidency, it is expected that he would want to take Sikie’s full ministerial position, as the appointment is not to a person but as a party representative.
As party president, he has the privilege to reorganise his party’s representation in government at both the State and federal levels. Although the Cabinet appointment is the prerogative of the executive, the representation is the party’s call. Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Dato Sri Rafizi Ramli was a unique case, as when he failed to retain his party position, he resigned from his Cabinet position that was tied to party hierarchy. That showed high integrity and statesman-like behaviour.
With Datuk Snowdon Lawan relinquishing the PRS Youth Chief post, the deputy minister post tied to the party position is now open. The contest for Youth chief has initially invited several contenders, such as assemblymen from Baleh, Nicholas Kudi Jantai; Lubok Antu, Roy Angau Gingkoi; Tamin, Christopher Gira Sambang; and Murum, Kennedy Chukpai Ugon. The winner stands to inherit the Youth chief’s position as deputy minister. With the withdrawal of Kudi and Roy, the contest is between Gira and Chukpai. Whomever wins, the prize is the deputy ministership.
Snowdon would have to beat the incumbent deputy president, Dato Majang Renggi, if the former expects to continue in his position as deputy minister. Either loser is expected to ‘gentlemanly’ and ‘magnanimously’ relinquish his government position. Another government position at stake is one held by the party’s secretary-general, unless he is contesting a strategic party position.
At the end of the nomination process, PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum announced that all party positions will be contested. In the same announcement, he also confirmed that Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie has returned unopposed as Women Chief.
Insiders say two Women’s Wing members are going for seats in the full council, namely Rosaline Neging, a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier. She is set to defend her position there as the only woman elected there previously. Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol is going for one of the four vice presidents’ slots. She could face an uphill battle as she would be facing PRS heavyweights and party veterans. She could be dubbed a ‘giant killer’ if she gains a seat there.
It is expected that other less ambitious party members who hold government positions would have to be careful in choosing whom to support. Backing the right horse would be compensated, while supporting a wrong one will incur cost. But some would be expected to maintain some level of neutrality for fear that making a wrong choice would be fatal.
Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair at UiTIM.
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
