By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 20: Just 15 days away from nomination, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Lubok Antu’s internal issue may turn into a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) problem.
Lubok Antu incumbent MP Jugah Muyang when contacted today said he is leaving the status of his application to rejoin Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) to GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Jugah left PRS and stood as independent candidate in the 2018 General Election. He won the Lubok Antu seat in a three-cornered fight by garnering 5,834 against PRS candidate Robert Pasang Alam who polled 4,775 votes and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Nicholas Bawin who managed to gather 3,942 votes.
He joined PKR in May 2018 but announcing he was leaving the party in June 2020 and remains as an independent. In February 2022, he applied to rejoin PRS.
This move to join PRS and contest as their candidate is seen as his chance to join the fray without having to face the full force of the GPS machinery coming down on him in the 15th General Election. Within GPS, the Lubok Antu federal seat which encompasses Engkilili and Batang Ai State seats, is traditionally allocated to PRS to contest.
“I have applied to PRS but (the situation) remains status quo. Most (members of the PRS) Selection Committee are supporting me, (except for) only a few.
“And the Premier (Abang Johari) will (only) get the winnable candidates,” Jugah said.
As of now, despite the lack of response from PRS, he is staying put while “waiting for the premier to list out all the candidates, the winnable candidates”.
On the hypothetical question whether he would continue to contest in Lubok Antu if his name is not on the GPS candidate list, Jugah said he will only make the decision after Abang Johari unveils the said candidate list.
PRS president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum when contacted said Jugah applied to PRS headquarters but his membership application was referred to the divisional level for approval.
He added that, at divisional level, Jugah’s application was also not “valid” as it had come through a leader who had since resigned, thus the application was rejected by both Batang Ai and Engkilili branches.
“As far as we are concerned, his name is not on our (candidate) list,” said Salang, stressing that this was because Jugah is not even a member of PRS. — DayakDaily
