By Karen Bong
SIBU, Oct 20: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum was unanimously elected as the deputy president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) uncontested during the party’s Extraordinary Delegates Conference (EDC) here today.
A motion to endorse Salang as the party’s No 2 was tabled by vice-president Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom and moved by a member of the Pelagus Division, Ellison Silo, and seconded by Youth exco member Andy Lawrence.
Salang, who formerly served as the secretary-general, replaced Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who was expelled from the party just before the last 14th General Election.
As Salang moves up in the party, Dato Janang Bungsu, who received the state title during the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 82nd birthday recently, is the new secretary-general. He was Salang’s deputy previously.
Janang, in his 40s, is an engineer by profession. He is currently the managing director of Konsortium Bumi Consultants and Services Sdn Bhd.
PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing, who is also a deputy chief minister, told a press conference later that the deputy secretary-general’s post would be appointed later, without having to go through the EDC.
Salang, in thanking Masing as well as all the divisions of the party for giving their support and confidence, believed he was now in a better position to help the president move PRS forward.
“It is not that I can’t do it (contribute) as an ordinary member, but now I am in a better position. It is my hope that the party will be stronger and better prepared for any eventualities,” he said.
Janang, who was humbled by the appointment, also thanked Masing for having trust in him.
“This shows that PRS is moving to the next level of politics, as the president has started to recognise the talents of young people coming up into the main body of the party,” he said.
With big responsibilities on his shoulder now, Janang pledged to give his best for the party.
“Also to inject new ideas to see this party goes from strength to strength and from majority to majority,” he added.
PRS Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie and Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan were also present. — DayakDaily
