SANTUBONG: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has proposed a Dayak woman to stand for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming general election.
PRS president Tan Sri James Jemut Masing said the woman was one of two new faces which had been nominated by the party for considerations by BN leadership
He said the party submitted six names including the two new faces to BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg, last month.
“I hope and I’m confident that their candidacy will be announced by the prime minister (Najib) soon,” he said.
The woman, who is one of the new faces, was a former Bintulu Development Authority legal adviser and the other new face is a public prosecutor, both in their 50s.
“If our candidates are accepted by the BN’s top leadership, it will be the first time in PRS’s history to have a Dayak woman contestant,” he told reporters after the PRS Youth Empowerment Programme here today.
Masing, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, said Lubok Antu and Selangau incumbents Datuk William Nyallau and Datuk Joseph Entulu had been dropped from re-election.
“I want to inform all the candidates that their seats belong to the party and not theirs. BN have given the seats to PRS and not (personally) to them.
“So, the party has the right to decide who to contest,” he said.
He said four other incumbents would defend their seats - Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum in Julau, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong (Hulu Rajang), Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit) and Datuk Masir Kujat (Sri Aman).
Masing said: “We have only proposed winnable candidates to contest as I want to ensure that PRS makes a clean sweep.”
Earlier, Masing said party members should use facts and figures to win support from the people in the election campaign.
“We should tell the truth and what’s right and avoid making promises we can’t keep or things we can’t implement,” he said.
“Winning is the only option. We (BN) have been there for 50 years and we should be given another 50 years.
During the event, Masing launched the “PRS Youth Apps”, an online platform to connect more than 40,000 members for effective dissemination of information.