KUCHING, May 16- Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing (photo) today thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for appointing PRS leaders in his new cabinet, including one minister and one deputy minister.
Masing, who is also Sarawak Land Development Minister, said the promotion of PRS deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was understandable, especially as PRS had the full backing of the Iban community in Sarawak.
“I thank the prime minister for considering PRS. Politics normally are not kind to losers but reward those who win,” he told Bernama here.
PRS vice president Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, who is also Julau Member of Parliament, was appointed as the new Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister.
Meanwhile, Sarawak’s minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah also thanked Najib for appointing nine MPs from Sarawak for posts of ministers and deputy ministers in his new cabinet.
Fatimah who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy women’s chief said not only had the prime minister increased the number of appointments for MPs from Sarawak, they were also appointed for important portfolios.
“As women of Sarawak, we are proud and grateful that two of the four MPs from here were appointed as full ministers,” she told Bernama, citing the appointments of Nancy Shukri as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Datuk Rohani Karim as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
PBB Youth vice chief Pandi Suhaili said the appointment of PBB Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof as Works Minister, as an endorsement for young leaders.
Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industries supreme council member Major (Rtd)
Peter Runin said the hard work in giving his best to serve the people in the Serian parliamentary constituency had paid off for Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) deputy president Datuk Richard Riot, who was promoted to Human Resource Minister.
“As a close friend, I am very happy for him and now he has to serve the whole nation as well ,” he said, thanking Najib for giving due recognition to Riot as the first federal minister from the Bidayuh community, which had given a strong mandate to the BN in the 13th general election.
– BERNAMA
