Masing dismisses report, fuels rumours

State Land Development Minister James Masing's refusal to comment on his party's plan to drop three MPs is fueling more rumours

KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak president James Masing has rubbished claims that he will be dropping three of the party’s six members of parliament.

He described a recent FMT report on the issue as ‘too imaginative’.

Inside sources had earlier this week revealed that Masing would drop three parliamentary legislators who were allegedly chosen and backed by deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang.

The three are Billy Abit Joo (Ulu Rajang), William Nyallau (Lubok Antu) and Kujat Masir (Sri Aman).

It is known fact here that Kujat and Nyallau are closely and politically linked to Jabu who is also deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is the president of PBB.

When Nyallau contested in the 2004 general election, it was the Chief Minister’s Office which arranged for him to be candidate.

Masing’s recommendation was ignored.

A similar situation arose in the 2008 general election and Nyallau’s re-nomination was strongly supported by PBB.

Kujat’s nomination in the 2008 general election was also strongly supported PBB .

Masing was helpless on both counts. Masing, sources said, has already found replacements for his ‘errant’ assemblymen.

Billy is likely to be replaced by Masing’s private secretary Wilson Ugak who has been actively working in the Ulu Rajang parliamentary seat.

Nyallau’s replacement could be a lecturer who is close to the party leadership, and as for Sri Aman seat.

Masing, it is learnt, has two ladies in mind.

Masing fuels rumours

Masing however has refused to confirm where the three will be retained or dropped.

All he said yesterday was: “No comment on that”.

When asked about the FMT report, he said: “It is too imaginative. You only take it from me. If I say so, then it is. If I say it is not, then it is not.”

By saying “no comment”, Masing who is Land Development Minister has further confirmed speculations that the three would be dropped.

PRS has three other MPs in the persons of Joseph Salang, Deputy Minister of Information, communication and Culture (Julau), Joseph Entulu, Deputy Minister of Regional and rural Development (Selangau) and Aaron Dagang (Kanowit).

Meanwhile the party’s supreme council which met on Monday has set up an election committee which is empowered to select and nominate candidate in the coming general election.

The committee is headed by Masing himself with Secretary General Wilfred Nissom, Youth Chief Mong Dagang and women chief Senator Doris Brodie as members.

Other members will be appointed later.

‘Not within my jurisdiction’

Masing also declined to comment on the current strive within coalition partner Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

He refused to be dragged into commenting on their internal problems involving the five controversial elected representatives.

He said SPDP was not ‘within his jurisdiction’.

The five reps are Peter Nansian, Senior vice-president of SPDP and Tasik Biru assemblyman, Dr. Tiki Lafe, vice-president and the MP for Mas Gading, Sylvester Enteri, vice-president and Marudi assemblyman, Rosey Yunus, Supreme council member and Bekenu assemblywoman, and Paulus Gumbang, supreme council member and Batu Danau assemblyman.

They are facing disciplinary problems for crossing paths with party president William Mawan two years ago and for failing to attend to the party’s supreme council meetings and functions since then.

When they walked out from a party supreme council meeting in January last year, they threatened to join PRS and had even attended some of its functions.

But Masing it appears is now trying to distance his party from the five.

“It is not within my jurisdiction. Their rumah panjang (longhouse) is different,” he said.

He also denied that the problems of the five were discussed in their supreme council meeting on Monday.