The leader of Iban-based Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Leo Moggie, last night brushed aside media questions on demand from a section of the party membership for him to step down immediately.

He said he had no comment when asked on reports that the majority of the party's branches, numbering 172 throughout Sarawak, had resolved to ask him to quit his post as president immediately instead of waiting till the end of his present term next year.

Speaking to reporters after the party's monthly central executive committee at the party headquarters in Kuching, Moggie, who is also minister of energy, telecommunications and multimedia, also refused to divulge his future plans.

He declined to say whether he would be sticking to his original decision to stay on in his present party president post until next year's party elections or whether he would consider a request from another section of the party membership to carry on as president even after the elections.

Moggie, however, told reporters none of these questions were discussed at last night's central executive committee meeting which only lasted for one-and-a-half hours, adding that the meeting only concentrated on what he described as housekeeping matters such as the renovation works at the party headquarters.

The meeting also discussed the invitation from the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) to its Gawai Dayak gathering on May 17 and also PBDS women's wing, which wanted to organise a pre-Gawai Dayak dinner on May 24 in Sri Aman division.

Conspicuous absence

For political observers, the partys CEC meeting was conspicuous not so much for those who attended but those who did not.

Although Moggie had said that those who could not make it had given 'genuine enough reasons for their absence', nevertheless sources told malaysiakini that the absence of the party's vice-president Sng Chee Hua and information chief Dr James Masing, who is also state minister of social development and urbanisation, was most apparent.

The two figures are part of the hardcore members of the faction that have been clamouring for Moggie to step down immediately and to have him replaced by the present deputy president Daniel Tajem as acting president until next year's party elections.

Tajem was however present, so were the party's Youth chief Joseph Entulu, an assistant state minister, and Dublin Unting, a CEC member and also an assistant state minister.

Sources said that senior Barisan Barisan leaders in Kuala Lumpur had intervened in the party's internal squabbles and asked both factions to cool down. There has also been agreement that they should no longer address their differences before the media.

Malaysiakini was later informed that both Sng and Masing decided to stay away from last night's meeting as part of a temporary respite and Tajem's presence at the meeting was expected, however.

Possible successor

After last month's party gathering in Miri during which the Sng-Masing faction agreed to support Tajem as acting president should Moggie step down before the end of his present term, it was also agreed that they would send a delegation to see Moggie in Kuala Lumpur to pass on the message from the majority of the party branches.

Out of deference and respect for top BN leaders, it is learnt that this faction has agreed they would not do anything for the time being to destabilise the party or BN. Instead, they would wait till next year when the triennial delegates conference is scheduled to be held.

According to sources, the Sng-Masing faction did propose before last night's CEC meeting to call on the party president and the committee members to replace the present secretary-general Stanley Ajang, the assemblyman for Belaga and a businessman.

But in the absence of their two faction leaders, the matter was not brought up at last night's evening. No reason was given as to why the faction wanted to have Ajang replaced. Masing has been suggested as a possible successor.

Stanley, however, has been very vocal against the Sng-Masing faction members and supporters within the party. The appointment of the secretary-general is at the prerogative of the party president.

Sources told malaysiakini that the anti-Moggie faction is not favourably disposed now to pushing Tajem to take over from Moggie as president.

The alternative for them now is to go for broke, so there has been talk that Masing will bid for the president's post instead of the deputy president post next year, said one of the sources.