By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 12: No candidates have been officially submitted, endorsed or finalised by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) leadership for any of the constituencies it currently holds in the coming Sarawak election, a party Supreme Council member said, amid speculation that incumbent Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana could be dropped.
PRS Supreme Council member Susan Clement said the party had yet to officially confirm any candidate, dismissing speculation that Anyi could be replaced by another contender in Ngemah.
She said this in response to an online video posted on Monday (Aug 10) that raised questions over Anyi’s position ahead of Sarawak election.
“With due respect, as PRS members, I believe we must address matters concerning the coming Sarawak PRN (election) based on facts, the official position of the party and the proper party process, rather than rumours, assumptions or statements made by individuals,” she said in a statement posted in the comment section of a video shared on the Nyabur Sebayan page.
Susan said she had spoken briefly with PRS president Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai, who informed her that no candidates had been officially confirmed.
She said the party president could not be expected to respond to every rumour, speculation or statement circulating on social media, and urged party members to refer instead to the party’s official position and established channels.
“Therefore, any individual currently claiming, suggesting or presenting themselves to be a PRS candidate for any constituency does not represent an official party decision,” she added.
She stressed that the party president had not authorised anyone to declare themselves an official PRS candidate.
“Personal ambitions, lobbying activities, informal discussions or statements made through videos and social media must not be confused with an official party decision,” she said.
Candidate selection, she added, remained the responsibility of the authorised party leadership and should take into account factors including electability, grassroots sentiment, party strength, local dynamics, performance, loyalty, accessibility and development records.
“No individual should assume ownership of a constituency or an automatic entitlement to contest,” she said.
At the same time, Susan said no incumbent should be removed based merely on rumours, personal lobbying or political manoeuvring.
“If an incumbent has performed well, has the confidence of the grassroots and remains the best person to defend the seat, those strengths should speak for themselves and be properly considered by the leadership,” she said.
She added that any concerns over an incumbent’s performance should likewise be assessed through the proper party channels.
Susan said the same principle applied to those aspiring to contest in the election.
She said there was nothing wrong with having political ambitions, but the final decision must rest with the authorised party leadership and established party process.
“Let the party process decide. Let the facts speak. Let the grassroots be heard,” she said.
Susan also urged PRS members to protect the party’s credibility, unity and strength rather than allow unverified information to create divisions.
She reiterated that, at present, there was no officially confirmed PRS candidate for any of the constituencies held by the party.
She also reminded party members that the date of the next Sarawak election had yet to be determined.
“As of now, nobody knows exactly when the Sarawak election will be held. Therefore, our focus should not be on premature speculation about candidates or election dates. Our focus should be on being prepared at all times,” she said.
“Let social media talk. Let the party work. Let the grassroots decide.”
Susan likened PRS members to people rowing the same boat, saying everyone had a role to play regardless of whether they were at the front, middle or back.
“A strong party is not built by rumours and speculation, but by unity, discipline, hard work and trust,” she said. — DayakDaily
