KUCHING - Soon after its formation on Oct 21, 2004, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) became embroiled in a leadership crisis that split the party with two sets of presidents and two headquarters. Not many would believe that PRS could survive especially with the intensity of the infighting.

“My presidency was under threat and ‘all hell broke lose’. Some of my senior lieutenants were breaking ranks and rebelled against me. It was the blackest day of my presidency,” said James Masing.

Some especially the media even described PRS as the “sick man of the Barisan Nasional”, he said.

No regrets

But Masing believed what he did - sacking key figures of the party who rebelled against his leadership - was the right step to take.

All PRS elected representatives except Larry Sng still believed in him and asked him to carry one. But federal and state leaders of Barisan Nasional believed kept their distance even though they have expressed their continued support.

Masing stood his ground and waited two years for the decision of the Registrar of Societies.  On April 1 last year, the registrar declared him the rightful custodian of Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

Today, PRS has not only remained intact, but has grown from strength to strength as evident by its fifth anniversary celebration in style, pomp and splendour. Indeed it has now come out to be one of the strongest parties after Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) which is “free” from any problem that has badly affected the Sarawak United Party (SUPP). Even the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party SPDP), another Dayak-based party headed by William Mawan, is reported to be heading into problems come its triennial delegates conference next month.

Appealing to young blood

As part of the celebration, PRS has launched its “PRS Club 30”, a completely new organisation which will recruit young and capable Sarawakians, male and female below 30 years to help further strengthen its position both in the Barisan Nasional and in the rural areas where its main battles are to be fought in the coming State election.

Introducing the “New Generation of Young Sarawakians” at the dinner last night, Masing said that they were highly educated and professionals of various disciplines like medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, social scientists and lecturers and they would spearhead the party’s move to recruit, to encourage and to motivate the young people in the direction which would benefit all Sarawakians regardless to race, religion and place of domicile.

“This group of Sarawakians (who have become PRS Club 30) will be the catalyst for placing us in the forefront of the 21st century. Some of these young people are sons and daughters of PRS and the former PBDS members. They are engineers, lawyers, medical doctors, accountants, lecturers, social scientists all of whom are 30 and below, representing various communities in Sarawak.

“As these young people pass the age of 30, we hope to continue to interest them in our struggles and recruit them into our youth and women wings of the party.  They will be the PRS flag bearers of the future. They are the layers of leadership in PRS," he said.

Aiming for smooth leadership transition

“With the three layers of leaders – PRS 30, Youth and Women wings and Main body –in place, it is our hope that succession in PRS will continue uninterrupted in the years ahead,” Masing said, adding that as they were going to retire, the young people would take over leaving no gap in terms of leadership succession in the party’s organisation.
 
In a separate development, two PRS men were named to the state cabinet in a reshuffle that saw six new faces being appointed assistant ministers and three assistant ministers dropped from the line-up. Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng, who is without a party, was retained as assistant minister.

The PRS duo were John Sikie Tayai (Kakus) and Mong Dagang (Bukit Begunan). The other four new appointees were Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party’s Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru) as well as Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s Abdul Wahab Aziz (Kalaka), Talib Zulpilip (Jepak) and Dr Stephen Rundi Utom (Kemena).

The reshuffle, announced on Nov 8, takes effect on Dec 1.

Youngest state Cabinet member retained

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said Sng (pic), the youngest Cabinet member at 30, was retained “because we do not have enough young Chinese leaders.”

Taib, who retained his portfolios in the Finance Ministry as well as Planning and Resource Management Ministry, said the reshuffle was in preparation for the implementation of the 10th Malaysia Plan and beyond, including after the state election due in 2011.

According to Bernama, Taib's two deputies - SUPP president Dr George Chan is tasked to be in charge of the new Tourism and Heritage Ministry with Mong and Talib as his assistants apart from retaining the Industrial Development portfolio.

PBB deputy president Alfred Jabu, who retained the Rural Development porfolio, also takes over the Modernisation of Agriculture Ministry from Dr Chan.

Dropped from the new line-up were the three assistant ministers from PBB - Bolhassan Di,  Hamden Ahmad and  Ambrose Blikau, who is being replaced by Dr Rundi as the new assistant minister for Public Utilities cum Public Health.

Masing retained his portfolio as Urbanisation Minister and Land Development Minister.