KUCHING – Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri James Jemut Masing had made all the necessary preparations to face the impending state election before he fell sick, PRS deputy president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said.
He said Masing had interviewed and held discussions with all PRS incumbent state assemblymen to let them know whether they would be retained, as well as what they needed to do ahead of the election.
“That part of it, in terms of preparations for the elections, had in fact been done quite a while ago. It had started since last year already (as) we had anticipated the possible election, except that it was halted by the upsurge in Covid-19 cases,” he said.
Salang said this when met by reporters at the residence of Masing, who was Sarawak deputy chief minister.
Masing died at Normah Sarawak Medical Centre in Petra Jaya at 7.05am today. He was 72.
Masing was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sarawak General Hospital here in September after he tested positive for Covid-19 and was later transferred to NSMC for follow-up treatment.
Salang said the PRS supreme council meeting today would proceed as scheduled, as notice for the meeting had been duly served to all the council members, and that he had also informed the party’s secretary-general Datuk Janang Bungsu on this.
“Even though there has been talk that the meeting will be postponed, I have told the party secretary-general that it has to proceed,” he said, adding that he would chair the meeting.
He added that the meeting would first discuss the funeral preparations for Masing before talking of the direction the party will take following the passing of their president.
In the last state election in 2016, PRS led by Masing won 12 seats and was part of the state Barisan Nasional before they decided to leave the coalition in 2018 together with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People’s Party and Progressive Democratic Party to form Gabungan Parti Sarawak. – Bernama, October 31, 2021
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