Joseph Salang Gandum (born 1 January 1951) is a Malaysian politician and former bank officer who served as the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Najib Razak and former Ministers Rais Yatim, Shaziman Abu Mansor, Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Syed Hamid Albar from March 2004 to May 2013 as well as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Julau from November 1999 to May 2018. He is a member of the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and formerly BN coalitions and was a member of the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), also a component party of the BN coalition. He served as the 2nd President of PRS from October 2021 to October 2025, when he has served in official capacity from April 2022 to October 2025 and in acting capacity from October 2021 to April 2022. He also served as the Deputy President of PRS from October 2018 to his official promotion to the party presidency in October 2021 and Secretary-General of PRS from October 2016 to his promotion to party deputy presidency in October 2018. In addition, he was also previously one of the vice-presidents of PRS, prior to being made party secretary-general.[1]
Salang was a bank officer before entering politics. He was elected to Parliament in the 1999 election.[2] He was originally a member (and deputy president) of the Sarawak Native People's Party (PBDS),[3] but sat in Parliament without a party after the PBDS was deregistered in 2004. He eventually joined the PRS ahead of the 2008 election.[2]
Salang has served in a number of government posts, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,[2] Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications,[4] and Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture.[5] He turned down reappointment to the deputy ministry after the 2013 election.[6]
Election results
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | P182 Julau | Joseph Salang Gandum (PBDS) | 9,183 | 66.99% | Kong Ah Huat (IND) | 2,897 | 21.14% | 13,707 | 6,286 | 75.55% | ||
| Samuel Edward Chun (IND) | 844 | 6.16% | ||||||||||
| Patrick Mit @ Dumit Tutong (IND) | 483 | 3.52% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | P208 Julau | Joseph Salang Gandum (PBDS) | 8,388 | 58.78% | Randan Mawat (IND) | 5,700 | 39.94% | 14,271 | 2,688 | 72.20% | ||
| 2008 | P209 Julau | Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS) | 10,351 | 77.75% | Labang Jamba (PKR) | 2,767 | 20.78% | 13,313 | 7,584 | 65.56% | ||
| 2013 | Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS) | 9,891 | 58.27% | Wong Judat (SWP) | 3,936 | 23.19% | 16,973 | 5,955 | 75.36% | |||
| Wong Hong Yu (PKR) | 2,852 | 16.80% | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS) | 8,174 | 44.02% | Larry Sng Wei Shien (IND) | 10,105 | 54.42% | 18,569 | 1,931 | 73.16% | |||
| 2022 | Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS) | 7,819 | 34.69% | Larry Sng Wei Shien (PBM) | 9,159 | 40.64% | 22,537 | 1,340 | 64.67% | |||
| Elly Lawai Ngalai (IND) | 5,224 | 23.18% | ||||||||||
| Susan George (PBDS) | 335 | 1.49% | ||||||||||
Honours
- Malaysia
- Penang Officer of the Order of the Defender of State (DSPN) – Dato' (2003)[8]
- Sarawak Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2025)[9]; Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (PGBK) – Datuk (2011); Gold Medal of the Sarawak Independence Diamond Jubilee Medal (2023)[10]
References
- 1."Joseph Salang Anak Gandum, Y.B. Dato'" (in Malay). Parliament of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- 2.[2.2][2.3]Suhaini Aznam (2 March 2008). "The partyless incumbent". The Star. Star Publications (Malaysia). Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- 3."Sarawakians see PM's sincerity: Taib". Daily Express (Malaysia). 22 March 2004. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- 4."PRS MPs pledge support to Abdullah". The Star. Star Publications (Malaysia). 22 March 2008. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- 5."Najib Announces 28-member Cabinet". Bernama. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- 6."Joseph Salang Gandum rejects appointment". The Star. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- 7."Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for third party and independent candidates not listed).
- 8."Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri's birthday honours list". The Star. 12 July 2003. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- 9.Samuel Aubrey (11 October 2025). "Fadillah heads TYT's birthday honours list, conferred 'Datuk Amar' title". The Borneo Post.
- 10."Fadillah dahului senarai penerima pingat 60 Tahun Sarawak Merdeka" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.