Promoters of the Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) whose application for registration was rejected by the Registrar of Societies can still write in and appeal.

This was suggested by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Kuching last Saturday.

In fact, Abdullah was unaware that the ROS had rejected the application until he was informed by a senior Sarawak minister that day.

At a press conference after opening the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) conference in Damai, near Kuching, the prime minister was asked by a reporter about the MDC's application.

When he replied that his officers were still studying the application, state Housing Minister Abang Johari Openg told him the ROS had already rejected the application. He appeared to be taken aback by Abang Johari's information.

His next words were that the promoters could still write in and appeal.

Reporters covering the press conference had the distinct impression the prime minister had no idea about the actual status of the application up to that point of time.

Cause instability

The ROS wrote to the promoters two weeks ago, giving reasons why the government could not register the party. Among the reasons given was that allowing another new Dayak-based party could cause instability among the already badly fragmented Dayak community.

Government sources said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) would be the last Dayak-based political party to be allowed registration for the time being.

MDC pro tem president Nicholas Bawin told malaysiakini that he might appeal against the rejection.

MDC pro tem deputy president Dr Johnicol Rayong Ngipa, the newly-elected state assemblyperson for Engkilili who stood on a Snap ticket, has already announced he is joining the Barisan Nasional.

Sources said he and the independent state assemblyperson for Ngemah as well as the partyless member of Parliament for Lubok Antu Jewah Gerang have expressed their intention to join SPDP.