By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 26: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Dato Snowdan Lawan has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to fostering open contests within its leadership structure, a move he believes will encourage growth, rejuvenation, and democratic engagement in PRS.
“Open contest will rejuvenate the party. Tradition kills democracy. Meritocracy is result-oriented,” he said in a statement today.
Snowdan, who is also Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts, emphasised that although merit is prioritised, unity within the party remains paramount in guiding PRS’s direction.
Reflecting on his role as PRS Youth vhief since 2016, he highlighted the Youth Wing’s unwavering commitment to the party’s core objectives.
“Since its inception in 2004, even with different leadership, the Youth Wing, along with the Women’s Wing, has loyally abide by its constitutional objective, which is to serve as a strong ‘guardian’ of the party’s struggle and well-being, as with any other political party,” he remarked.
He noted the growing dedication among youth members to PRS’s vision and mission, underscoring the importance of loyalty and continuity within the Youth Wing.
PRS boasts 39 divisions across Sarawak, each with its own Youth Wing.
“We coordinate with these divisions to organise membership drives, awareness campaigns, dialogues, sports events, visits, gatherings, and government project launches, strengthening our ties with other GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) component parties.
“This unified ‘Sarawak First’ spirit promotes collaboration toward realising our forefathers’ ultimate objective in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), a cornerstone of the Malaysian Federation,” he explained.
As Sarawak pivots towards a digital and green economy, PRS Youth is focused on equipping young Sarawakians with skills for this evolving landscape.
Snowdan stressed the need for continuous Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to build a skilled and semi-skilled workforce.
“Over the next decade, ongoing TVET and vocational training will be essential to produce professionals, like engineers, and other high-income employment opportunities for our youth,” he said.
With automatic voter registration now in place for individuals aged 18 and above, PRS Youth is dedicated to cultivating responsible and informed young voters.
“These young voters must understand their voting rights responsibly and prioritise objective considerations over emotions. They should approach issues rationally, thinking ‘Nation’ first.
“We must move in alignment with the State and maintain unity to achieve harmony, embodying our motto: ‘United we bargain, divided we beg’,” Snowdan advised.
Beyond the Youth Wing, PRS has introduced Pewaris PRS, a wing specifically for members aged 18-28, to nurture future leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to carry forward the party’s vision and aspirations.
“We recruit them early to ensure they ‘inherit’ our mission as they grow and mature across political, social, educational, and economic spheres,” he added.
Last week, PRS Bukit Goram Division chairman Andy Lawrence highlighted the need for open contests for all party positions.
As PRS prepares for the Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) next year, the leadership must decide between reaching a consensus or holding an open contest for the party’s top position. — DayakDaily
