KUCHING, Oct 31: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has requested its Baleh division to propose a new candidate to contest the seat in the coming Sarawak election following the passing of its party president-cum-seat incumbent Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
Its deputy president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum who is now assuming the role of the party president said PRS had earlier decided to renominate all 11 incumbents to defend their seats but with Masing’s passing, the party needs a new candidate.
“The party has done all the preparatory work to defend Baleh. Now, our only task is to select the most suitable candidate to come and stand in Baleh.
“We have some ideas on the names but we are not yet at liberty to announce if it’s not yet finalised.
“So we have asked the division to hold a quick meeting and put up a proposal to us and in this case, one name is enough,” he told reporters after chairing the PRS Supreme Council Meeting at PRS Headquarters in Kuching today.
Salang also said that despite the party’s resolution on the candidates, the final decision belongs to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg as the chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“We have put forward the names of the 11 incumbents to defend their seats but with the proviso that the chief minister as the chairman of GPS is free to give us advice whether the candidates we put up, are able to defend the seats.
“If it is based on the various sources that there is difficulty, we have also been putting up the other names for candidacy. So we are waiting for the indication from Abang Johari whether or not we have to push other names.
“However, as you all know, this election is based on the party’s preparation. When it comes to the final selection of candidates, it could be done at the last moment,” he explained. — DayakDaily
