PARTI Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing is satisfied that one of his party’s two MPs has been named a deputy minister in the new cabinet unveiled by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today.

Four-term Kanowit MP Aaron Ago Dagang was named second deputy health minister.

“The macro picture of what the nation needs comes first,” Masing said in reaction to the cabinet appointments.

Repeating the old adage, Masing said the appointments to the cabinet were the prerogative of the prime minister.

“As the captain, he decides on who shall be the members of his crew in his ship, by taking into account each party’s representation in Parliament.

“Party desires are secondary to the prime minister’s rights in forming a government for a democratic system.

PRS, which lost three seats in the 2018 general election – Selangau, Julau and Lubok Antu – was reduced to only two seats after its Sri Aman MP, Masir Gujat, defected to the small formerly pro-BN Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in March last year.

The party’s other MP is Wilson Ugak Kumbong, representing the remote constituency of Hulu Rajang.

Petra Jaya MP Fadillah Yusoff, re-appointed to the Works Ministry he helmed between 2013 and 2018, said it “was a great trust for the people and the nation, which we must bear with humility and a sense of responsibility”.

“My appointment as senior minister and minister of works, in addition to the three full ministers and five deputy ministers allocated to GPS, was a recognition for Sarawakians under the leadership of Muhyiddin and Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.”

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP and Pakatan Harapan chief Chong Chieng Jen slammed GPS for supporting Muhyiddin in the scramble to be prime minister, saying it is “foolishly naïve and ridiculous to think that the Umno-PAS-led federal government will do any good for Sarawak”.

Chong, who lost his deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs ministerial post in last week’s PH power struggle, said: “no amount of allocation, even if there is any additional, can compensate for the destruction this combination will do to the fundamental social structure and system of the country”.

“What the GPS has done now by supporting the Umno-PAS government is putting the corrupt regime and religious bigots in power.

“It is a double whammy for the interests and rights of Sarawak.

“Thanks to GPS, PAS is now in the federal government and sitting in the cabinet deciding on the general policies of the country.

“This surely will pose a threat to the secularism of our federal constitution and also that of Sarawak’s social structure,” Chong said in a statement. – March 9, 2020.