An open campaign has been launched to urge Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Leo Moggie to remain at the helm in order to avoid a leadership struggle, which could cause a split in the Barisan Nasional component party.

The call came from 13 branches in Kanowit Moggie's own parliamentary ground in central Sarawak after their joint divisional meeting yesterday to ask the party leader to continue for another term.

Moggie has expressed his intentions to step down after the party's triennial delegates conference which must be held by next February. Moggie, who is currently not in Sarawak, has yet to react to this. He is expected to return to the state o­n March 14 and chair a PBDS supreme council meeting the next day.

The branch leaders from various parts of Kanowit also declared their support for incumbent deputy president Daniel Tajem to assume the leadership if Moggie insisted o­n stepping down.

They also wanted treasurer-general Joseph Sallang to fill the No 2 slot if Tajem became president.