Salang accepts defeat in Julau with open heart
KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said the party would analyse his second defeat in Julau in the just-concluded general election.
He remarked that he accepted the result with an open heart and voiced the possibility of another candidate being fielded in the seat in the next general election.
“Over time, we will analyse as to why the result is that way and maybe we can remedy it in the future. Not for me, but for other people,” he told reporters.
He said this when met at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Saturday night, where Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders had gathered for the official announcement of the election results.
Salang opined that a lower voter turnout of 65.8 per cent could have played a role in his loss.
“Nonetheless, the voters have made up their minds. The result is a reflection of the voters’ preference and it is also quite surprising that a lot of votes went to the independent candidate.”
According to him further, he had received positive response during the campaign trail and thus, it was rather disappointing that the outcome was not in his favour.
He lost to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president Datuk Larry Sng, who won with a majority of 1,340 after polling 9,159 votes.
Salang received 7,819 votes, while independent Elly Lawai Ngalai garnered an impressive 5,224 votes. Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak’s Susan George only managed 335 votes.
The party president was PRS’ sole casualty this election.
In the 2018 polls, thenincumbent Salang was defeated in a straight fight by Sng who had contested as an independent.