A meeting among four top leaders of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) is scheduled for Thursday, in what is seen as incumbent president Leo Moggie's last-ditch attempt to prevent a split within the party.

Malaysiakini

understands that deputy president Daniel Tajem, treasurer-general Joseph Salang Gandum and information chief Dr James Masing are to meet Moggie in Kuala Lumpur.

Claim disputed

The meeting was organised by an 'agent' of the Masing faction who met Moggie recently, when the latter was in Sarawak.

"Moggie ( photo ) wants to size up the issues and find out the real prospects for some form of negotiation in order to reach a consensus," a source said.

"If the meeting fails to reach an amicable solution, then I suppose the candidates will have to go through the election process."

The 'agent' has been in touch with well intentioned behind-the-scenes players who are concerned that the o­ngoing tussle for the top leadership posts could tear the party apart.

Their fear is that, if this happens, many of the PBDS elected representatives who fail to gain posts may either form a new party or join other Barisan Nasional component parties.

The 'agent' is pushing for Masing to be elected unopposed as the new president, to replace Moggie, at the forthcoming triennial delegates conference (TDC).

The Masing faction, which includes Sng Chee Hua o­n the deputy president's ticket, has reinforced its position by pointing out it has secured support from 163 (or 80 percent) of the 206 branches. The rival faction disputes the claim.

A president candidate is required to obtain nominations from at least 30 percent of the branches.

Masing confident

Masing ( photo ), who returned from a week-long working trip to New Zealand yesterday, implied that he has secured so much support from branches that he has as good as won the presidency.

A cynical member of the rival faction responded: "He is saying that he has already reached the finish line and won the race even before the starter has fired the gun to start the race."

The PBDS supreme council will o­nly meet next month to discuss the date for the TDC. Nominations have yet to be called for the party posts.

Malaysiakini

also understands that, in order to prevent a split, agreement may be reached to accept Masing as president and Salang as his deputy.

This begs the question as to what position Tajem may be assigned, since he has declared that he wants to content the presidency. Sng, meanwhile, has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be deputy president.

The speculation is that Tajem, could be appointed a senator, while a party source feels that Sng may be persuaded to agree to the formula in the party's interest in return for remaining a key leader and playing a useful role.