‘Sacking a pre-emptive strike’
Abrupt dismissal of Selangau, Lubok Antu incumbents seen as move to prevent them from being announced as BN candidates — Political analyst
These are the six names approved by BN chairman (Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak), unless the name list was miraculously changed while making its way from the desk of Petra Jaya to Putrajaya.
Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, PRS president
KUCHING: Local political analyst Dr Jeniri Amir views the sacking of Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, Datuk William Nyallau Badak and three other supreme council members as a “pre- emptive strike” by party president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
Af ter openly making the accusation that PRS’ list of candidates was ‘tampered’ on the way from Petra Jaya to Putrajaya, Masing held an emergency meeting for the party’s supreme council where he sacked Entulu, Nyallau, Nyempah Sabot, Edward Kurik and Adriana Chumang.
The PRS president told a local news portal that: “The six names I submitted have been approved by BN Sarawak chairman earlier. So these are the six names approved by BN chairman (Datuk Seri) Najib (Tun Razak), unless the name list was miraculously changed while making its way from the desk of Petra Jaya to Putrajaya.”
Masing stressed that the only way Entulu and Nyallau, who were not renominated to defend their seats in Selangau and Lubok Antu respectively, could make their way back into the list was for the name list to have been changed without his knowledge as PRS president.
Jeniri described the move by Masing to sack Entulu prior to the official announcement of Barisan Nasional ( BN) Sarawak candidates for the 14th general election ( GE14) today as a “preemptive strike”.
He believes the sackings would affect BN in the general election and the top leaders are faced with the unenviable task of healing the wounds of division in the two constituencies with polling just over a fortnight away.
“Sure. ( It) will affect. Defi nitely a hidden hand is behind (it),” he said.
Jeniri believes that tension between Entulu and Masing started prior to the last state election in May 2016 and spilled over to the party’s Triennial General Meeting ( TGM) in November 2016.
The clash between Masing’s and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira’s camp with Entulu during the last state election also affected the grassroots leadership in Tamin, especially among the Tuai Rumah and Penghulu. A total of 187 Tuai Rumah and three Penghulu were allegedly removed for supporting Entulu.
Gira got the nod and soundly beat Ali Puji, who contested as an independent candidate, and Simon Joseph of Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) during the May 2016 state election. Gira garnered 6,230 votes while Ali managed 4,145 votes and Simon received 954 votes.
The tell-tale sign that Entulu’s days were numbered was clearly visible during the party’s TGM in November of the same year.
Entulu, who has been PRS deputy president since 2006, was suddenly challenged by Julau MP Datuk Joseph Salang who is aligned to Masing. Entulu won the contest but it was a Pyrrhic victory as the rift between him and Masing widened after that.
The sacking of Entulu from PRS prior to the official announcement of BN candidates has thrown a spanner in the works, forcing the top BN management to scramble for a solution to what appears to be an embarrassing hitch in the finallist of candidates.