The recent triennial delegates conference (TDC) of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) showed that the majority of the delegates overwhelmingly voted for continuity and an orderly leadership transition.
"When the result of the
presidential election was declared, Sikie was announced as the winner
and the third president since the party was formed in 2004."
As widely expected, Datuk John Sikie Tayai, formerly senior vice president, was elected as the new president while Ulu Rajang Member of Parliament Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong was automatically elevated to senior vice president by virtue of him having secured the highest number of votes among the vice presidential candidates.
Under the party constitution, the vice president candidate who obtains the highest number of votes automatically becomes the senior vice president.
Sikie, the Minister in the Premier’s Department and a former school teacher, defeated Pelagus state legislative member (SLM) Wilson Nyabong Ijang in a straight fight.
Nyabong, an ordinary supreme council member, had gone into the fray, hoping that he could be the next party president.
When the result of the presidential election was declared, Sikie was announced as the winner and the third president since the party was formed in 2004.
The majority of the delegates voted for Sikie because of his seniority in the party, meaning that they voted based on party’s hierarchy.
Samalaju SLM and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggie retained his post as deputy president through no contest after his sole challenger Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Balai Ringin SLM, pulled out a few days before the TDC.
Snowdan, the deputy minister of tourism, creative industry and performing arts, cited giving priority to party unity and stability as the reason for his withdrawal.
There was only one surprise in the contest for the five vice presidents. Senator Rita Sarimah Insol provided that one surprise by winning one of the vice presidents.
Political analysts suggested that Rita secured the support of the delegates because they wanted to see a woman, with a strong legal background, to be elected as a vice president.
As a qualified lawyer, she has shown herself to be a woman with a strong leadership quality.
Former president Datuk Sri Joseph Salang, in his final speech at the TDC, had said the delegates should vote for more women into high positions on the party.
The incumbents who retained their positions as vice presidents are Datuk Liwan Lagang (Belaga SLM), Datuk Mong Dagang (Bukit Begunan SLM) and Datuk Sri Aaron Ago Dagang (Kanowit MP)
Two other candidates failed to unseat the incumbents.
There were little changes in the line-up for the ordinary supreme council members.
Among the 15 ordinary supreme council members, two are women, namely Susan Clement Ingun and Roseline Neging.
Tamin SLM, Christopher Gira Sambang, an engineer by training, is the new Youth chief.
He is seen as the right man for the post - a position that is seen as an important platform to groom him to go higher in the party’s hierarchy.
Sri Aman MP Datuk Sri Doris Brodie, dubbed by the media as an iron lady of PRS, remained as the Women chief without contest.
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