THE loss of three seats by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in the recently concluded polls in Sarawak was the result of a backlash from Dayak voters against its president, James Masing, said a political analyst.

Jeniri Amir, a political scientist at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), said national issues, such as corruption and 1Malaysia Development Bhd, might have contributed to Barisan Nasional’s loss in general but the Dayaks’ anger against Masing’s sacking of two incumbents contributed to the largest losses incurred by a single party in the state’s four-party coalition.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the lead party for the first time in its history, lost one seat.

The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) did not lose any seats but failed to regain any of the six seats they lost to DAP and PKR in GE13 while the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) is the only party that survived unscathed.

Masing, just two days before nomination, sacked his deputy and the incumbent of the Selangau seat, Joseph Entulu, the incumbent of the Lubok Antu seat William Nyalau and three of their associates for “working against the interest of the party”.

Entulu is also a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

However, Jeniri said the sacking was a to pre-empt any attempt by BN chairman Najib Razak to reinstate the two dropped men as candidates.

The candidates Masing chose, former corporate lawyer Rita Insol in Selangau and former public prosecutor Robert Alam Pasang in Lubok Antu, both lost.

PRS had held the Selangau seat since 1995, with Entulu being its MP for three terms since 2004 while the coalition had held the Lubok Antu seat for 40 years.

PRS’ four-term Julau MP and former deputy minister for information, communication and culture Joseph Salang was ousted by an independent candidate.

“These are all protest votes to protect the sackings by Masing,” Jeniri said. – May 10, 2018.