Open contest for all top posts in Sarawak's biggest Dayak party 

THERE will be open contests for all top posts in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) - the biggest Dayak political party in this state which is a component of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ruling state government.

The contests will be for the party presidency, deputy president, vice presidents and all other posts in the central leadership as well as in branches statewide.

The incumbent party president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum has endorsed this open contest decision, said PRS Youth Deputy Chief Surai Anthony Abell.

The PRS Youth announced this after their wing's central leadership committee meeting in Kuching.

"We welcome the endorsement by the party president to proceed with having open contests at all levels of PRS.

"This is a courageous move that augurs well for the image of PRS.

"It is the right move that will help ensure that future leaders are groomed and elected via democratic processes.

"The unity and harmony must still be preserved even with the open contests," Surai said in a statement.

The party will form an election committee to handle the party elections slated for later this year, he added.

The PRS Youth Wing had late last year already passed a resolution calling for these open contests to be held during the triennial delegates conference this year.

PRS Youth publicity chief Samuel Lawen had then said the PRS needs to beef up its leadership.

"We have unanimously agreed that open contests be allowed for all key posts in the main wing, the youth and women wings.

"This is to allow grassroots members to elect who they want to lead the PRS into the future.

"Having open contests for all party posts is a healthy process that will lead to vibrant leadership.

"We must do away with the so-called traditional method of appointing leaders," he had said after the PRS Youth central leadership committee meeting in Kuching last December.

PRS has more than 400,000 members throughout Sarawak.

They are mostly from the Dayaks, the biggest ethnic grouping in Sarawak.

PRS is a component of GPS along with Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Sarawak United Peoples Party and Progressive Democratic Party. - January 21, 2025