KUCHING: The post of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president is expected to be contested by Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai and Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong at next month's triennial delegates' conference (TDC).
Outgoing president Datuk Joseph Salang said so far only the two have openly declared their intention to contest.
"At the TDC, I am not seeking to defend the post," he confirmed when contacted today.
Joseph, who became acting president in October 2021 following the death of Tan Sri Dr James Masing and was elected unopposed in April 2022, said the presidency will be up for grabs at the TDC.
Nominations for all elected posts in PRS, a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component party, run from Sept 3 to 17.
Nomination papers must reach party headquarters by Sept 26, with the names of candidates for all contested posts to be announced on Sept 27 or 28.
The TDC will be held on Oct 18 and 19.
Joseph said candidates for the presidency must secure nominations from at least 13 of the party's 38 divisions to qualify, failing which they will be disqualified.
On why he decided to step down, he said he would have stayed on if there had been consensus among the supreme council for him to continue.
"But some members said all posts should be open to contest, otherwise there is no democracy in the party," he said.
He added he is happy to leave the presidency as long as the party remains united and is confident that contests for posts will not split PRS.
"We want a fair contest… just seek nomination. Don't ridicule or attack anybody personally," he said.
"If you think you can do better for the party, unite the party better, then go ahead and contest," he added.
He reminded all candidates and members to protect PRS's image as the only Dayak-based multiracial party in Malaysia.
"Hopefully, PRS will not become another PBDS," he said, referring to Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak, which was de-registered in 2004 after an unresolved leadership crisis.
A group of former members revived the party as PBDS Baru in 2013. In September 2022, the Registrar of Societies approved its name change back to PBDS. - NST
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.