By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Aug 10: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has enough ‘reserve players’ for all its eleven seats, in the event the Chief Minister rejects the nominees from the party, said PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
Using the analogy of a soccer team, he said the party must have enough ‘reserve players’ as the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg), who is also the chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), has the final say on the candidate list for the coming State election (PRN12).
“PRS will nominate all the present (eleven) incumbents in the coming State election but CM has the final say, as he has better ways of knowing who have better chances of winning. And he may reject our nominees.
“However, just like a soccer team, we have enough ‘reserve players’ for all our eleven seats in case the Chief Minister do not endorse our nominees,” Masing told DayakDaily today.
He added that even in his case in Baleh, he will abide by the decision of the Chief Minister whether he should be nominated in the coming state election.
“If PRS renominates me as its calon (candidate) for Baleh during PRN12 and CM endorses it, of course, I will accept the challenge.
“However, if CM doesn’t endorse my re-nomination, then it’s the duty of PRS to find a replacement for DUN Baleh to take over my place. That’s how politics work,” he reiterated.
When asked whether PRS could retain all its eleven seats, Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister affirmed that the party would be able to deliver all the seats for the ruling coalition.
“I’m confident of defending the 11 seats of PRS on behalf of GPS,” he added.
In the last state election, PRS managed to score 100 per cent when it won in all its eleven seats.
Besides Baleh, PRS other seats are Balai Ringin, Bukit Begunan, Batang Ai, Ngemah, Pelagus, Belaga, Murum, Tamin, Kakus and Samalaju.
Meanwhile, Masing said PRS will use the ‘new norm’ in following the strict adherents to the standard operating procedures (SOP) in the fight against Covid-19, whenever the party is organising its events and meeting.—DayakDaily
