KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is confident that Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) will be able to find a successor to replace its late party president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister believed that the party’s supreme council would identify a suitable person to fill the former deputy chief minister’s shoes.
“In any institutions when there is a vacant position, a replacement will be sought after. There are great leaders in PRS, so I am confident that they will know how to identify and select among themselves,” he said when speaking to pressmen after a function at Asajaya Sports Complex on Monday (Nov 1).
He was asked to comment on the way forward for PRS in light of the demise of the late Baleh assemblyman who passed away on Sunday morning (Oct 31) at the Normah Specialist Medical Centre (NSMC).
Abdul Karim said the party, through its supreme council, could appoint someone to assume the duties as president on a temporary basis.
“When the party holds its general assembly, then a permanent president can be appointed,” he said.
The Asajaya assemblyman also expressed confidence that PRS would be able to identify a candidate to replace Masing in the Baleh state constituency as its assemblyman.
“I believe that it will find someone who can continue the struggles of the late deputy chief minister.
“We know that Baleh is a stronghold of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and formerly, the Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak. We want to see the same for the future,” he said.
Earlier, Abdul Karim described Masing as a close friend and comrade who loved Sarawak and showed it through his work and actions.
“I offer my condolences to Puan Sri Corrine Masing and family. The late Tan Sri will be remembered as someone who fought for the Dayaks and uplifted the community.
“This was through education, infrastructure development and in terms of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land,” he said.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said although the former deputy chief minister was strict, he was soft-spoken and a gentleman.
“He rarely raised his voice. He was soft-spoken even when expressing his views,” he said.
