Letter to the Editor
For the 2025 Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Triennial Delegates Conference that will be held on October 18 and 19, a total of 33 candidates have accepted their nominations to contest various positions from the president down to the supreme council. The contests that will be keenly watched will be for the presidency, deputy president and Youth Chief. This is because winners will stand to gain benefits and losers will likely lose their government positions.
Kakus assemblyman Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai must win the presidency if he expects to retain his full minister’s status as a representative of his party in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government. Losing to Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang is not an option. Losing means that he must “honourably” give up his cabinet position to Nyabong.
The loser in the contest for the position of deputy presidency is expected to “gentlemanly” resign from his government position. Both Samalaju assemblyman Dato Majang Renggi and Balai Ringin assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan are not appointed to their respective government positions in their personal capacity. The former was made a deputy minister because he was the party deputy president and the latter as he was Youth Chief.
In the contest for Youth Chief, the winner expects to take over the deputy ministership held by former Youth Chief, Datuk Snowdan Lawan who is now contesting for the deputy presidency. Thus the contest for Youth Chief will be a promotion for whoever wins, either Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang or Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon.
Four government positions from the party hang in the balance and with some distant likelihood of changes. The position of federal minister is being held by the party’s Vice President Dato Sri Aaron Ago Dagang, the Kanowit MP, and the deputy federal minister by Vice President Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, the Hulu Rejang MP. Deputy ministers in the GPS government are held by Vice President Datuk Liwan Lagang, Belaga assemblyman, and the party’s Secretary-General Dato Dr Malcom Mussen Lamoh, Batang Ai assemblyman.
These four positions may see changes depending on who becomes president and how the four individuals have positioned themselves in the contest between Sikie and Nyabong. Backing the right “horse” would bring benefits but supporting the losing one will come with its expected consequences.
But these are petty issues. Who wins and who loses do not matter much as the choice for these top positions especially the presidency and the deputy presidency are contested by party members of similar educational background and calibre. One or the other leader elected would not make a huge difference. The void left by its founding president, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, who was Baleh assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister was too huge to fill. As in a Malay proverb: the difference is analogous to “the sky and the earth” (ibarat “langit dan bumi”). This does not mean there are none that can take over. But they are still young with good academic background but less experience, lack wisdom and have rather modest successes to show for now. They need more time to gain the necessary leadership qualities and skills to rise to the occasion. Some professionals are seen in several candidates vying for the elected position as members of the party supreme council. They are the party’s hope for better positioning itself in the competitive state political environment, but time do not wait for any man. As lyrics from the oldies by Elvis Presley summed it all up: it’s now or never.
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
