Masing warns Taib: ‘Sng will lose’
By Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today
KAPIT: Partyless incumbent Larry Sng ‘will lose’ the Pelagus state seat if he contests under the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) or as a direct Barisan Nasional member, warned Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).
PRS president James Masing told Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud this during the latter’s visit to Kapit division.
“Only a Dayak-based party of the state Barisan Nasional can win in Kapit.
“Records showed that no Dayak-based party has ever lost any seat in any state or parliamentary election.
“We are confident to deliver all the nine state seats under PRS with the support of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party,” said Masing, who is state land development minister.
The nine seats Masing referred to include the Pelagus seat which has about 80 percent Iban voters.
Masing’s warning came in the wake of the Chief Minister’s advice to Larry Sng to apply to be a direct BN member. Masing sacked Larry Sng and his key supporters from PRS in 2009 after a three-year leadership tussle between them.
Speculation is rife that Taib may ask Sng to contest the seat as a direct member of the Barisan Nasional. But Masing has made known his objection as it is going to have a very unhealthy trend.
“Such a practice will undermine the BN unity and spirit of cooperation,” he had said, pointing out that Pelagus belongs to PRS.
“We will contest Pelagus,” he declared.
The party has short-listed three local persons with good educational qualifications to contest the seat in the coming election.
