Malaysian Dayak Congress's (MDC) application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) Sarawak for registration is expected to go to Kuala Lumpur only after the state government has given its views.

There is a possibility now that the new Dayak-based party may not be registered unless the ROS Sarawak can by-pass the state authorities and forward the application straight to ROS headquarters in Putrajaya.

At a meeting on Sunday of state Barisan Nasional elected assemblypersons, Chief Minister and state BN chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud mentioned the likelihood of two new political parties in Sarawak that were going to be registered and would be knocking on BN's doors.

He mentioned MDC as one of them, and sought the views particularly of Dayak BN leaders.

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president and state Land Development Minister Dr James Masing said they would object to the registration of the party as it would serve to further disunite the Dayak community politically.

(PRS is still awaiting federal BN supreme council meeting to consider and approve its application to join the coalition. Its application has already been endorsed at the state level).

Taib, according to the same sources, also said the ROS would be coming to see him on the matter.

When contacted by the local media, ROS Sarawak director James Ho said that no date had yet been fixed for the meeting with the chief minister.

He, however, declined to comment whether it would be necessary to obtain the state government's approval first before the application is sent to ROS headquarters in Putrajaya.

MDC pro tem president Nichola Bawin, when contacted today, told malaysiakini that he contacted the ROS Sarawak director yesterday morning.

"He told me he is busy as he has other things to look at and is not free to see me," Bawin said.

Taib's intentions

It is learnt that not all applications such as for the registration of clubs and associations submitted to the ROS Sarawak are referred to the state government. Applications for new political parties are nearly always referred to the state government, however.

A number of those present at Sunday's meeting were surprised Taib mentioned the ROS Sarawak was going to see him regarding the application. It had led to other speculation on the chief minister's intention other than to seek the views of Dayak leaders in the BN.

Masing's reaction was not unexpected, as talk is that since MDC submitted its application last month to the ROS the response to MDC on the ground, especially in Dayak areas, has been very encouraging.

"PRS leaders apparently see MDC as a real threat as they will take on PRS leaders in the coming state elections, especially in Dayak areas," the sources said.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.