Letter to the Editor
By Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan
The biggest leadership test for Parti Rakyat Sarawak lies in the coming party elections when members will vote for whom they want to lead the party. PRS President Joseph Salang Gandum have been reported to give his endorsement for open contest to top positions in the party. This will be the acid test as it will be the first time that PRS top leadership will be chosen by members after the passing of its founding president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Jemot Masing.
Masing founded the party in 2004. This followed the downfall of PBDS that split between those who supported him and the late Dato Sri Daniel Tajeim to replace former founding president of PBDS, Tan Sri Leo Moggie. As a compromise could not be reached, Masing left to form PRS in 2004. PBDS was eventually deregistered because of some issues (Note: the present PBDS 2.0 is a new political entity arising from the resurrected PBDS and being led by largely unknowns who are capitalisng on the former glory of the original PBDS).
Like PBDS under Moggie and PRS under Masing, there is no second echelon leaders being prepared in any eventuality to take over as the number one. However, in the former PBDS, the party was slightly in a much better position as there were many second echelon leaders capable compared to PRS where there is none that is visibly able to take over. Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum came into the position through party crisis and that was due to the untimely demised of its founder president in late 2021. Words then has it that Salang was a stop gap leader and meant to be transitional. But the question who is he warming the seat for?
Salang who was deputy president sailed smoothly into the presidency when his challenger, Sikie, agreed to accept the number two position. But this time around Sikie is too old to mount another challenge. Besides, what benefit will it bring as he has reached the height of what he could be, a full minister in the Sarawak cabinet representing PRS. He is not destined to go any further.
PRS presently have eleven lawmakers in Sarawak comprising old hands and newbies. Old hands are both lawmakers who have been in their positions for quite some times and advancing in age. Old hands need not be undesirable if they have done important things for their constituencies and had shown leadership quality. To be a leader, a person is not the president of their respective constituency but for all constituencies for which the party has elected lawmakers. Many so far are confined to be local player instead of leaders for the state-wide members of their party.
Among PRS Sarawak lawmakers two are old hands having served for the seventh term since the 1990s, namely Dato Mong Dagang and Dato Sri John Sikie. Sikie is a full minister in the Sarawak cabinet and is also PRS’ oldest lawmaker at 75 years of age. There are three PRS lawmakers who are serving their fourth term, namely Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Datuk Dr Malcom Mussen and Datuk Liwan Lagang. All three are deputy ministers in the Sarawak government. Another four PRS lawmakers are currently serving their second term, namely Ir Christopher Gira, Wilson Nyabong, Kennedy Chukpai and Dato Majang Renggi. Except for Majang who is a deputy minister in the Sarawak cabinet, the other three are ordinary lawmakers. Gira is nonetheless an engineer by training. PRS newbies comprised Nicholas Kudi and Anyi Jana who are both in their first term.
PRS also have three federal lawmakers. Dato Sri Aaron Ago Dagang is serving his fifth term as member of parliament and is a federal minister. Datuk Wilson Ugah is a three-term member of parliament and is a federal deputy minister. Another two are newbies, Roy Angau and Edwin Banta. In addition, PRS has two veteran politicians in the former Senator and Deputy President of Senate, Dato Sri Doris Brodie and senator Rita Sarimah Insol.
These are the pool of potentials to vie for the presidency and based on their experiences, not many have the potential for the task in hand. None have any outstanding character that would draw strong and undivided support. By virtue of being a full minister, potential contenders could come from Aaron Dagang and John Sikie. As far as challenging Salang should the latter decided to defend his presidency, Aaron and Sikie do not have a strong following and them entering the fray may even give Salang a chance to retain his position through a split three ways among delegates.
While Aaron may be a federal minister, there is talk that he may go for the presidency for a good reason. Inside source says that he would want to return to the state and assuming the PRS stays as strong as it is today, he is said to be eyeing to be PRS men as the next deputy Premier ascending to the late Masing’s position in the GPS government. But this could be wishful thinking as the position is not for any political party to ask but based on graciousness from GPS backbone, the PBB.
Another potential that is rumoured to have been a favourite of the late president is Dato Sri Doris Brodie, first Dayak women member of parliament and PRS Women leader whom the late party president, according to inside information, held in high regards for her ability. Unfortunately, members of PRS may not be ready to accept a woman leader to lead them. This has nothing to do with the ability of this person but more stereotyping that Dayak men have not yet overcome, although they supported her to contest and win a parliament seat in the last general elections.
The contest is a good process of renewing leadership. This is consistent with traditional values that guided leadership formation among Dayaks and Ibans. Leaders such as tuai rumah in the old days and based on tradition are chosen by those whom they lead. Leaders are the epitome of leadership at its best. Leaders exalt high moral values and are examples to be emulated by their followers. More importantly, leaders emerge from the consensus of their own community and not supported or supplanted by outsiders who may have some agenda to promote certain individuals as puppets.
Consistent with evolving manner by which leadership are renewed, it might be a good idea to open a debate among hopefuls. This way the general membership of PRS and not just delegates to the party’s triennial conference may be able to evaluate who are most capable to rise to the leadership position.
Prof Jayum is currently a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and a Member of National Unity Advisory Council.
This is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
