KUCHING, Aug 19 ― Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said today that he will not stop party members from challenging him for the top post at the party elections in October.
“They are welcomed to challenge me, and I have no problem with that. But we must play by rules as laid out in the party's constitution, like not resorting to character assassination,” he told reporters after launching the state-level National Career Day here.
Masing, who is also deputy chief minister, said a person will never know how good he is as a leader until someone challenges him.
“A good leader must not be afraid to be challenged because if he is a good leader, he will still get the support of the members,” he said.
Masing added that since becoming PRS president in 2004, he has retained the post unopposed.
He said he will not oppress and suppress members who want to challenge him, nor will he recommend them to the disciplinary committee for actions to be taken against them.
Masing, who also the state minister of infrastructure development and transportation, said he does not believe that the party will break up arising out of contests for the top leadership.
“We are mature enough not to break up the party as we all believe that the interest of the party takes precedence over the interests of every member,” he added.
Masing said all posts will be up for grabs at the triennial delegates conference to be held in Bintulu from October 21 to 23.
Apart from the president, the posts of deputy president, three vice presidents and 15 ordinary supreme council members are also up for grabs.
