exclusive Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud today told his Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council members in a closed-door meeting to expect the dissolution of the state legislative assembly in a month's time.

A PBB supreme council member who spoke on condition of anonymity told malaysiakini that Taib, the PBB president, also said he felt this was the best time to hold the state election and that unless there was something to prevent it, the state election would be held accordingly.

The date mentioned for the possible dissolution of the 62-member assembly is Saturday, April 22 and nomination day could be as early as the following Saturday, April 29.

Campaigning period could be a short one week with polling on Saturday, May 8.

If the state government decides to stick to the dates, this means it will be going to the polls seven months before the expiry of its five-year term in November..

The PBB supreme council meeting, chaired by Taib was also attended by its two deputy presidents Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu and state Housing Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg, senior vice president and former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem and other supreme council members.

Jabu told a press conference later that the state BN had directed all its component parties to go to the ground and prepare for elections. Also present were PBB treasurer and Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and State Assembly Speaker Awang Asfia Awang Nassar.

However, Jabu made no indication of any election date.

To Election Commission chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's recent comment that ''the state election is at the nearest corner,' the PBB deputy president said, "We are all prepared for the nearest corner."

Indirect reference to Adenan

During the meeting, the same source told malaysiakini that Taib made some indirect reference to Adenan Satem, the party senior vice- president many party leaders thought until recently was the candidate to succeed him (Taib) as chief minister soon.

He was said to have made some remarks that anyone who aspire to be No 1 must first have the support of the No 2 and No 3 in the party. This is taken to mean that other than himself (Taib) the aspirant must also have the backing of the No 2 (Jabu) and Johari (No 3).

During the press conference, Jabu described Taib as fit and healthy and full recovered after his recent operation to remove a tumour from his colon suspected to be cancerous.

He added that the chief minister had gone back to performing normal duties.

The party leaders today pledged their support to Taib to carry on leading the party and state during and after the elections, he said.

Today's meeting also discussed a proposed amendment to the party's constitution to do away with party divisions and replacing them with branches.