The support among the grassroots for Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) information chief James Masing and vice-president Sng Chee Hua to run for the posts of president and deputy president respectively is growing louder, according to a Kuching-based English daily today.

In its front-page report, the Sarawak Tribune said this comes less than 24 hours after 22 branches in Sibu initiated the Masing-Sng line-up for the top posts.

The daily added another 24 branches in Lundu yesterday expressed a similar stand at their joint annual general meeting (AGM).

The report, which had no by-line and did not quote any source, said "In the next few weeks, such expression of support is expected to be the order of the day, with the next o­ne (AGM) in Sri Aman, scheduled to be held o­n March 2."

The Dayak-based party - which Masing hopes will have a more multi-racial outlook - directed all its branches to hold their annual meet by March 31, prior to the party'sTriennial Delegates Conference (TDC), scheduled for September.

Based o­n statistics obtained during the last TDC, there are 206 PBDS branches statewide.

New leadership

Meanwhile, the Tribune report said: "If the current show of support is translated into nominations, Masing and Sng would not have much problem in meeting the requirement for a minimum of 30 percent nominations of the total branches to be eligible to contest for the post of president and minimum 25 percent for the deputy president's post.

This year's TDC would be the party's most important, as it would determine the new leadership since president Leo Moggie has decided to step down.

According to the daily, there have been various proposals since last year for the new leadership line-up.

One with deputy president Daniel Tajem to take the top post and Masing as his deputy, the other with Tajem as president and treasurer-general Joseph Salang as deputy.

Over the weekend, 22 branches reportedly came up with another 'succession formula' and caught many by surprise with the inclusion of Sng, a corporate player, in the running for the top posts.

Ethnic chauvinism

When officiating the AGM in Lundu yesterday, Masing reiterated his call o­n members to shed, what he termed, as "ethnic chauvinism".

"We must not o­nly say that we are multi-racial because our constitution allows us to recruit non-Dayaks but also in our deeds," the state social development and urbanisation minister was quoted as saying.

Masing added that all members, regardless of race, must be united.

He also urged them to look at a person's capabilities and not his or her racial background when making their choice for a leader.

According to the Tribune , most political observers believe that a contest, should it be held, for the top posts, would see a close fight.

This was because some 80 percent of the party's elected representatives and most of the Dayak intellectuals are supporting Masing."

Also present at yesterday's joint AGM opening were two PBDS members of parliament Billy Abit Jo and Jimmy Donald, state assemblyperson Dublin Unting, Mong Dagang and John Siki Tayai.

Sng, Philimon Nuing, Sidi Munan and Wilson Ugak were also there. The last three are closely linked to Masing and Sng.