MIRI: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun is tight lipped over his next course of action following a news report that he would not be renominated to defend the Selangau parliamentary seat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Refusing to comment, despite repeated questions by the media on his political career, Entulu, 64, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) deputy-president and Selangau incumbent since 2004 , only shook his head.
However, when met by the media and questioned why he was keeping silent on the issue after a dinner organised by the Miri United Club last night, he calmly replied,“When the time comes, I will call for a press conference.”
PRS president and Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing was reported by the media this week that Selangau and Lubok Antu parliamentary seat would see the party new faces contesting in the GE14.
Masing also announced that the party would retain the incumbents for Sri Aman, Julau, Kanowit and Hulu Rajang parliamentary seats.
Entulu came under the spotlight after the PRS’s fourth Triennial Delegates Conference at Bintulu in 2016 when he was re-elected as the party deputy-president.
Entulu,64, who held the post since 2006 defeated former Federal Information, Communication and Culture deputy minister and party vice president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, 68.
The soft-spoken Salang, who is Julau Member of Parliament, was initially seen as the front runner in the contest.
Salang was seen as a favourite after political observers believed he was aligned with Masing who was returned unopposed as party president.
Immediately after winning the deputy-president post, Entulu was quoted as saying that the party election results sent a strong message from grassroot delegates that they wanted their MP in GE14 to be retained unless any of the incumbent declined to be renominated. - Bernama