KUCHING, May 21: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) secretary-general Datuk Joseph Salang has raised questions over the exact number of members who left the party with former Senadin branch chief Richard Will Uban.
He said there were more than 1,000 members in the PRS Senadin branch and even if Richard were to bring with him 50, it would not have any effect on the party.
“We don’t know the exact number of members who left with Richard. But if it was only 50 of them, then it will not even leave a dent in our membership,” Salang told DayakDaily today.
He was responding to an earlier statement by Richard who claimed that PRS members in Senadin were resigning from the party because they had lost confidence in the leadership of its president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister.
Richard called on Masing to tender his resignation for mistakes in tackling internal party affairs, resulting in the party losing three of its parliamentary seats in the recently concluded general election.
Salang said he was not surprised Richard was leaving the party. He claimed the latter still owed the party a few thousand ringgit in terms of contributions.
“Richard was a political secretary before. He was supposed to make contributions to the party according to our party regulations. But he did not. He still owes us a few thousand,” said Salang.
PRS women’s chief Dato Sri Doris Brodie, who is also PRS Senadin branch women’s chief concurred with Salang.
“I wish to express the collective views of my Senadin Women’s exco and members that we do not share Richard Will’s sentiments.
“We are solidly rallying our support behind our party president (Masing). Senadin Division has 1,111 members hence Richard plus 13 others (as seen in a photograph published with Richard’s statement) cannot represent us and be our spokesperson for PRS Senadin Division,” said Doris.
She said Richard could not even command support from the entire Senadin Division, least of all demand for the PRS president to step down and admit his ‘mistakes’.
“In fact it is right for Richard and his accomplices to step down (leave the party) and even more appropriate for them to admit their mistakes for supporting and campaigning for opposition candidates in the last general election instead.
“We thus see Richard’s action as a pre-emptive measure before he and his accomplices are subjected to disciplinary action by the party for their uncalled-for actions.
“Richard leaving PRS is no loss to us; it is a blessing in disguise.
Meanwhile, PRS Senadin secretary Egi King viewed the statement by Richard as a ‘publicity stunt for the purpose of gaining political mileage.’
“PRS Senadin has more than 1,000 members and only 14 leaving. What actual impact will that have?” questioned Egi. — DayakDaily
