PRS wants to field 2 new faces in GE14

KUCHING: If Barisan Nasional leadership has no objection to Parti Rakyat Sarawak’s ( PRS) list of candidates, then at least two of the incumbents will have to give way to the president’s choice.

A source, who is very close to PRS, believes that the party president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing is serious in wanting to field at least two new faces including a woman for the coming general election.

He said if changes were to be made, then the constituencies of Lubok Antu, Sri Aman or Selangau are likely to be affected.

“The president’s plan is to make two changes. While a change is almost certain to take place in Lubok Antu, the other one is either in Sri Aman or Selangau.

“Although he ( Masing) has personally announced that Datuk Masir Kujat would be renominated to defend Sri Aman, anything can happen at the last minute,” he said.

The source said this is because Masing could even submit another name to the Prime Minister while telling people that he had submitted two names.

According to the source, who requested anonymity, PRS women chief Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie and PRS youth information chief Andy Lawrence are the likely choice of Masing for Sri Aman and Lubok Antu.

He said Doris can either be fielded in Sri Aman or Lubok Antu. The latter is currently held by Datuk William Nyallau Badak.

However, if Masir is retained, then the other political casualty is the party deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun.

“If Masing sticks to his decision to retain Masir, and if the Prime Minister decides not to overrule his choice of candidate, then Entulu is the casualty.

“To me, these are the only three seats in which he wants to make some changes,” he said in response to Masing’s recent statement.

Masing on Monday disclosed that there would be changes to PRS’ list of candidates for the coming general election.

He, however, declined to reveal how many of the candidates would be new faces, and who would be dropped from the list.

“I haven’t finalised yet, but I can tell you there will be changes in our list,” he was quoted as saying.

PRS has been allocated six parliamentary seats including Julau, Kanowit and Hulu Rajang.

The incumbents of the other seats are Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (Julau), Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang ( Kanowit) and Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong ( Hulu Rajang).