The Masing-Sng faction has sent out feelers to its rival faction within political party PBDS to try and reach a consensus in resolving the o­ngoing leadership tussle.

The discussions centre around a 'compromise list' of new party leaders who will take over when incumbent president Leo Moggie ( photo ) steps down either at the end of the year or early next year.

The rivals are backing deputy president Daniel Tajem for president and treasurer-general and Julau MP Joseph Salang Gandum for deputy president.

Undercover moves

Malaysiakini

understands that an 'agent' of prospective PBDS presidential candidate Dr James Jemut Masing, now party information chief and state minister of social development and ubanisation, has approached a representative of the rival faction with the list.

A reliable source said Masing's name is being proposed as successor to Moggie, who is also a federal minister. An offer will purportedly be made to Tajem to hold another, yet unspecified, position.

Other names and proposed designations include:

- Masing's strong supporter Dublin Unting, an assistant minister of tourism, as the next secretary-general. Unting is now an appointed member of the PBDS supreme council.

- PBDS youth chief Joseph Entulu, another Masing supporter and assistant minister in the Chief

Minister's Office, as a vice-president.

Malaysiakini understands that the 'agent' met privately with Moggie while he was in Kuching recently to discuss a possible compromise.

Moggie himself had said after chairing the much-publised supreme council meeting in Marudi last week that he prefers the consensus approach to resolving the leadership issue.

Meanwhile, another list is in circulation, but its author could not be traced. It proposed Tajem for president, with Masing as his deputy

Interestingly, neither list includes the name of Salang ( photo ), who is seen as a protege and close confidante of Moggie.

In a recent interview, Salang, a director of Telekom Malaysia and a successful Iban businessman, said he would be happy to remain a party member and MP. He indicated willingness to stand aside if the party wants another candidate to fill the No 2 post.

'Show sincerity'

Malaysiakini understands that the go-between has told the 'agent' that the Masing-Sng faction would

have to show sincerity if it wants to arrive at a compromise ahead of the triennial delegates conference (TDC) due to be held by September or in February next year.

"The Masing faction will have to come out with a fresh resolution or statement asking Moggie to stay o­n for a while in order to resolve the problem of succession," the source said.

This could possibly include postponing the TDC if more time is needed to close the rift and for compromise to be reached.

A pro-Moggie PBDS supreme council member, who asked not to be identified, said he did not think the Masing group had made a "genuine case" for compromise.

" Sng (Chee Hua) is unlikely to agree to any new arrangement if his name is not included in the list," he added.

"Besides, after all that has been said and done by the Masing group, too much water has flowed under the bridge for the groups to reach a compromise."

Meanwhile, Masing supporters are said to be busy preparing to give him a rousing welcome when he returns to Kuching o­n Monday. He is o­n an official visit abroad.