PRS Simanggang demands Sri Aman MP make way for a by-election

A group photo of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Simanggang branch members who expressed their disgust with Masir’s defection from PRS to PSB last week.

SRI AMAN, March 14: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Simanggang branch has called on Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat to vacate the seat to enable voters to exercise their democratic right to “vote in a loyal PRS/GPS” representative.

The call was made via a statement that was issued after members of the main body and also the Youth and Women wings of PRS Simanggang branch gathered for an impromptu meeting yesterday after “feeling betrayed and angry by Masir’s unbecoming action” last week, where he jumped ship to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) — a non-Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) party.

“While we acknowledge that an individual has a democratic right to association and join an association of his choice, an elected lawmaker is expected to be conscionable and loyal to the party that picked him for the seat, supported him with the party‘s resources during the election and in serving his constituents.

“We rallied behind him through thick and thin and voted for him as he represented our party in the last three general elections (2008, 2013 and 2018),” they said.

The statement added that they thought Masir shared their belief and loyalty to PRS, to the then component of Barisan Nasional (BN) and now GPS.

“ln defecting to PSB, Masir has defrauded us, his constituents and party members, who voted for him. It is a betrayal.

“Whilst we understand the need for GPS government to terminate his MRP (minor rural project) and RTP (rural transformation programme) as he is no longer a GPS MP, we the constituents are bound to lose because he is no longer in the GPS system. It is for this reason, we seek him to resign to allow for a by-election to enable us to vote for a GPS candidate in Sri Aman.

“Sri Aman Parliamentary Constituency has always been a BN and now a GPS stronghold. In the wake of his (Masir) betrayal, we remain resolved to stand together, united by our love for PRS and GPS,” they added. — DayakDaily