KUCHING, May 10 — Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing today blamed the lack of cohesiveness among the four component parties of the state Barisan Nasional for the defeat of its candidate in the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency in the just concluded 14th general election.

"I think there was no sincerity and genuine feeling among the component parties there,” he told Malay Mail today when asked for his reactions on the loss of three seats to two Independents and PKR.

He said he is not interested in intrigue and backstabbing "because that doesn’t work well among various component parties which should be together.”

PRS candidate Robert Pasang Alam lost to an Independent Jugah Muyang in Lubok Antu , PRS secretary general Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum lost to another Independent Larry Sng Wei Shien in Julau and in Selangau, state PKR chief Baru Bian defeated corporate lawyer Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol.

Masing, who is also deputy chief minister, thought that Sarimah lost due to the fever from the Peninsular Malaysia sweeping the people up in Sarawak.

"That is the reason in Selangau, though the majority was very small,” he claimed, referring to Baru’s majority votes of 486.

But former Lubok Antu member of parliament Datuk William Nyallau disagreed with Masing, pointing out that the defeats were due to the unceremonious sacking of him and four other party leaders on April 22.

"We were sacked without justification and humiliated publicly,” he said, referring to himself, party deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun and supreme council members Nyempah Sabot, Edward Kurik and Adriana Chumang Nyabong.

He said the reasons given by Masing to the media that they were sacked because they disobeyed the party over its list of candidates for GE14 which brought the party into disrepute were lame and unsubstantiated.

"Party members in Lubok Antu, Julau and Selangau were upset with our sackings, and they simply took revenge against Masing by supporting the Opposition,” Nyallau said.

"They wanted to teach Masing a proper lesson not to be arrogant and disrespectful to other party members,” he said, adding that Masing should blame himself for the loss of three seats.