John Sikie Tayai

Summary

Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai is a senior Sarawak politician who has represented the state constituency of N60 Kakus under the PRS banner since 1991 and currently serves as Minister in the Premier's Department in the GPS state administration. In October 2025, he was elected President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak for the 2025–2028 term, becoming the first PRS president chosen through a contested party election. His political career is anchored in rural interior Sarawak, where he has consistently championed GPS-aligned governance and the rights of indigenous communities.

Biography

Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai is a Malaysian politician from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) who serves as the elected representative for the N60 Kakus state constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly [1]. Born in approximately 1950, he was aged 75 at the time of his election as PRS president in October 2025 [2]. He has represented Kakus since 1991, making him one of Sarawak's longest-serving state assemblymen; political analyst James Chin described him as a 'nine-term Kakus assemblyman' whose key advantages include his state Cabinet post and extensive groundwork since first being elected [3]. He took oath as an assistant minister under then-Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem in May 2016 [4]. Prior to the 2021 Sarawak state election, he served as Assistant Minister for Native Laws and Customs [4]. Following the 2021 state election, he was appointed Minister in the Premier's Department under Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg, a post he has held since January 2022 [5]. In this ministerial capacity, he has overseen matters including Sarawak's native customary law institutions, including proposing a new Institute of Adat Istiadat Sarawak through legislation [6]. On 19 October 2025, he was elected President of PRS for the 2025–2028 term, defeating Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang with 186 votes to 154, becoming the first PRS president to be elected in a contested election [2]. He is married to Datin Melia Gelen [4].

Known for

John Sikie Tayai is primarily known as one of Sarawak's longest-serving state assemblymen, having continuously held the Kakus seat since 1991. He is the first PRS president to be elected to the post through a contested party election, having won the party presidency in October 2025 [3]. As Minister in the Premier's Department, he has been a senior figure in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state administration overseeing governance matters including native laws, customs, and state integrity [6][5].

Political positions

Sikie has consistently advocated that rural and interior constituencies benefit most when represented by GPS-aligned politicians with direct access to the state government. During the 2021 Sarawak election campaign, he argued that Kakus lost at least RM60 million in development allocations due to a previous election of a non-GPS-aligned Selangau MP, framing it as a lesson in choosing representatives aligned with the state administration [4]. As PRS president, he has stated that PRS's roots in rural seats give the party a clear understanding of interior community challenges — roads, electricity supply, and access to clean water — and has called for PRS to be allocated additional state seats in the expanded Sarawak assembly [3]. He has also emphasised the importance of patriotism as a continuous, year-round value for Sarawakians, beyond ceremonial occasions [2].

Political career

1. 1991First elected as assemblyman for N60 Kakus, Sarawak. Political analyst James Chin described him as having served since 1991, calling him a 'nine-term Kakus assemblyman'.⛓
2. May 2016Took oath of office as one of 18 Sarawak assistant ministers under Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem following the 2016 Sarawak state election.⛓
3. November 2021Served as Assistant Minister for Native Laws and Customs in the lead-up to the 12th Sarawak state election in December 2021.⛓
4. December 2021Successfully defended the Kakus state seat in the 12th Sarawak state election under the GPS ticket.⛓
5. January 2022Appointed Minister in the Premier's Department under Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg following the 2021 Sarawak state election, with deputy minister Juanda Jaya assigned to Integrity and Ombudsman under his ministry.⛓
6. April 2022Withdrew his nomination for PRS president at the party's triennial delegates meeting, deferring to Joseph Salang Gandum following a party supreme council decision against a contested election. He remained as vice-president.⛓
7. May 2023As Minister in the Premier's Department, announced that Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) was in the process of drafting a proposal to establish an Institute of Adat Istiadat Sarawak through a new Bill.⛓
8. October 2025Elected as president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) for the 2025–2028 term, defeating Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang with 186 votes to 154. Became the first PRS president to be elected in a contested party election.⛓

Election history

• 2021N60 KakusWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• ExpertPolitical analyst James Chin noted that Sikie's key advantages as a PRS presidential candidate were his state Cabinet post and the extensive groundwork he has done since being elected in 1991, adding that in a Dayak-centric party, a state Cabinet post is more influential than a federal one as it provides direct access to resources and the premier.⛓
• GovernmentPRS acting president Joseph Salang publicly endorsed Sikie for the party presidency in August 2025, with Salang citing support from party elders for Sikie's candidacy.⛓
• VerifiedFactsKakus is a state constituency in Sarawak with a population of approximately 34,520 (as of 2020) and 25 polling districts, represented in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 1991.⛓