The struggle between rival factions within Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) for control of the party has begun in earnest with the speedy submission of annual returns from the majority of party branches to the party headquarters.

This came in the form of seven stainless steel boxes, locked and sealed, containing the annual returns from 177 branches sent to the headquarters yesterday by the faction supporting party information chief Dr James Masing for the president's post and Sng Chee Hua, o­ne of the party's five vice presidents, for the deputy president's post.

Accompanying the delivery of the boxes to the headquarters in Jalan Datuk Wan Alwi were several pro-Masing/Sng faction leaders, including member of parliament Billy Abit Joo, state assemblyperson John Sikie Tayai, political secretaries to the Chief Minister, Wilfred Nissom and Wilson Uggak, and supreme council members Richard Wil and Sidi Munan.