KUCHING: It will be a great advantage for Malaysia if a leader from Sarawak is made deputy prime minister in the new federal government, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth Information Chief, Andy Lawrence.
He suggested Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi for the post.
“He will fit by virtue of his experiences. He is now completing six terms as MP and is the current secretary general of the ruling Sarawak coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) with 18 parliamentary seats,” he said in a statement today (Tuesday).
PRS Youth Secretary Bit Surang also echoed the similar sentiment, adding that the spirit of Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be rekindled if Nanta was appointed deputy prime minister.
“Nanta is the grandson of the late Tun Jugah Barieng, one of the founders and prime movers of the formation of Malaysia and a signatory of the MA63 in London in 1962.
Bit pointed out that Nanta had extensive legislative and executive experiences at both the federal and state levels.
Another PRS Youth Exco member, Ramlie Likong also urged the new federal government to consider a Sarawakian as a deputy prime minister.
“The new federal government must greatly consider a Sarawakian in order to live up to the expectation of the ‘social contract’ or the Federal Constitution.
“Though it may not specifically be spelt out, honouring the spirit of the federal constitution is a new dawn. The prerogative is on the new prime minister to create the deputy prime minister post if the needs necessitate it and for the betterment of Malaysia,” he said.
He reiterated that it was high time for a Sarawakian to be given the chance of holding the deputy prime minister post.
“Our nominee is Nanta, a seasoned parliamentarian, an effective and people-centric leader who won his seat twice uncontested — in 2004 and 2008 respectively,” he added.
