KUCHING: There is no room for any protracted struggle for the presidency of Parti Rakyat Sarawak ahead of the 15th General Election which is widely expected to be held sooner than expected.
This is because Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) of which PRS is a component will want it to be a formidable front to recapture the party’s ‘lost’ parliamentary seats.
“So it must be the party’s interest and unity above all and we must not compromise it,” said its Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
Stressing the need for unity especially at this time he called on party members to fall in line with the consensus reached by its supreme council, that there be no contest for the president’s post at least at this triennial delegates conference.
His comments followed a news report that PRS vice-president Datuk John Sikie Tayai, who is also Minister in the Premier’s Office, is eyeing the president’s post at this TDC which is to be held on April 23-24 in Sibu.
The top post in the party fell vacant following the untimely demise of president Tan Sri James Jemut Masing a few months ago.
“The consensus by the supreme council is in line with the succession plan laid by the late president whereby it moves up by rank and file.
“The ultimate aim is that the party’s unity is preserved and the party remains relevant especially after the success attained by the party in the last 12th State Election (PRN12),” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
Snowdan said party members especially rural Dayaks who are the real beneficiaries of the party’s unity must benefit from this win by not placing the party’s unity at stake.
“I think this is what our late president meant by ‘I want all PRS members to understand that nobody is above the party’.
“We are where we are because of the party. The party gives and the party takes,” said Snowdan.
