KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing to do some soul searching before blaming others for PRS’ weaknesses.
“I believe it’s wise for him to not look for fault among component partners but to look forward on how to strengthen (relationship) and work closely with his partners,” said the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday.
“Before James Masing takes potshots at and giving reminders to PBB, it would be better for him to do a little bit of soul searching and see for himself whether his domineering and refusal to hear dissent within his party is healthy and progressive for the party,” said Abdul Karim, referring to the upheaval in PRS following the sacking of its deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and a few other supreme council members before the last general election.
Abdul Karim also reminded Masing that the last parliamentary election saw six bumiputera-majority seats in Sarawak falling to the opposition and out of this, three were contested by PRS.
“These three (Barisan Nasional (BN) losing candidates) are James Masing’s proposed candidates and are known to be aligned to him. That speaks volumes of his far (sighted) vision. From what I hear from the grapevine, the winners of these three seats and the party they represent were surprised themselves over how they could steamroll James Masing’s candidates and machinery. Baru Bian (now Selangau MP from Pakatan Harapan) was snubbed early in the election that the Ibans who are majority in Selangau will not give their votes to an unknown ‘Orang Ulu newbie’. Likewise, his (Masing’s) staunch supporter and chosen candidate was eliminated by a young Chinese in the Dayak-majority seat of Julau. That speaks volumes of James Masing’s foresight and good political acumen.
“Now he seems to take potshots at PBB and is seemingly trying to equate the PBB leadership with that of Umno. Just manage your house (PRS) properly and do not put the blame on others.
“Ensure that you (Masing) don’t lose more seats in the forthcoming state election. Blaming others for your own weaknesses will not bring you anywhere,” Abdul Karim stressed.
He was reacting to Masing’s statement that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) needed to get rid of a dominating leadership style and think about a new kind of political leadership, or else the ruling coalition could sink in the next state election due in 2021.
Masing cited PBB as an example, equating it with Umno in BN.
When officiating at PRS Extraordinary Delegates Conference in Sibu on Saturday, Masing cautioned that GPS could suffer the same fate as BN if PBB was too dominant and refused to listen to its smaller partners.
PBB is the backbone party of GPS, holding 46 out of the 82 seats in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. -TheBorneoPost
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