ROBERT Pasang Alam lost his fight against cancer early this morning.

Pasang, 51, who stood as the Barisan Nasional-Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) candidate in the Dayak seat of Lubok Antu in the 14th general election, died at the Normah Medical Centre in Kuching, where he was receiving treatment. 

According to friends in his Law Faculty 92 WhatsApp chat group, the former deputy public prosecutor had been battling colon cancer.

PRS president James Masing, who confirmed Pasang’s death, said: “I have lost a dear friend in RPA – as Pasang is commonly known to close friends – and Sarawak has lost a very good and honourable member of the judiciary.”

“May God bless his soul.”

Pasang read law at Universiti Malaya between 1988 and 1992.

He resigned as a deputy public prosecutor to contest in GE14.

PRS fielded him in Lubok Antu after axing its two-term incumbent and former minister in the prime minister’s department William Nyalau, in an internal power struggle.

An independent, Jugah Muyang, won the three-cornered fight by 1,059 votes.

Muyang, who has since joined PKR, polled 5,834 votes to Pasang’s 4,775. PKR candidate Nicholas Bawin won 3,942 votes.

Pasang’s loss was reportedly due to protest votes from PRS members unhappy by Nyallau’s removal.

After failing to win the seat, Pasang returned to practice law in Kuching.

His death was also reported by his law faculty classmate, Abdul Baderi Sahmat, in a social media post. – February 27, 2019.