Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) deputy president and presidential aspirant Daniel Tajem today dismissed a newspaper report that 11 branches in his traditional stronghold in Sri Aman had pledged support for his rival Dr James Jemut Masing.

A front-page report in today's Sarawak Tribune , a local English daily, said delegates from 11 branches within Tajem's stronghold had in a signed statement felt "a more dynamic and younger leader" Masing would receive their support as candidate to be president succeeding Leo Moggie who is not seeking re-election.

They also pledged support for Masing's running mate Sng Chee Hua as deputy president.

More support now?

Contacted by malaysiakini , Tajem's first reaction to the newspaper report was that it was "good news".

He explained that o­nly o­n March 2, 46 branches within his stronghold were reported by local newspapers as having declared their support for the Masing-Sng alliance.

"What's happening? It seems that I now have the support of 35 out of the 46 branches," Tajem

said, adding that it would seem "the longer we go o­n, the more support I am getting from the branches".

According to the Sarawak Tribune report, the delegates from the 11 branches were from Munggu, Sabun, Simanggang, Sabu, Ladong, Stumbin, Bakit Balau, Seduku, Sengat, Undup, Lamanak Seberang and Lamanak.

Ths report headlined 'Big blow for Tajem as traditional base shifts support' came in the wake of an official denial by the Sarawak Assistant Registrar of Societies Wan Mohammed Wan Ahmad that he or any of his officers had ever rung up the PBDS headquarters to ask them to collect back annual returns of some 250 party branches that had not been submitted through party headquarters.

On Thursday, Tajem told reporters he had been informed by party secretary-general Stanley Ajang that the ROS office had rung up the party headquarters to inform them of branches annual returns that had been submitted to them (ROS) directly.

PBDS officials' immediate reaction was to leave the matter there, as they felt o­nly the persons who had submitted the annual returns should go and collect them from the ROS office if such submission had not followed proper procedures.

Commenting o­n the Assistant Registrar's official statement, Tajem said he preferred not to make any comment o­n the matter.

Meeting tomorrow

Stanley, however, told malaysiakini that the party headquarters received a call o­n Wednesday from the ROS office about the annual returns that had been submitted without observing the normal convention of going through party headquarters.

Malaysiakini understands that PBDS president Leo Moggie ( right ), who is also energy, communications and multimedia minister, had earlier written to the ROS office to be asked to be kept informed should they receive any annual returns of branches that did not go through party headquarters.

Meanwhile, the PBDS supreme council will meet tomorrow afternoon in Kuching. It will be chaired by Moggie.

Tajem said the forthcoming triennial delegates conference is not in the meeting agenda.

"As chairman of the political affairs committee which scrutinises the formation and registration of party branches, I would not be making any report o­n the progress of the work of the committee unless I am asked to do so," he added.

Tajem said the most important priority at the moment is the verification exercise of all branches which is still o­n-going. According to him, out of 243 branches more than 150 have already been verified.

New party

He expected all branches to submit their annual returns to party headquarters by May 15, the last date for submission.

"After that we will continue with verifying the remaining branches.

"According to stipulated rules, we will have 60 days to submit all the annual returns of branches to the ROS office from the closing date of their submission to party headquarters," Tajem explained.

Asked to comment o­n rumours of a new party that has been linked with his rival group, Tajem said: "I heard about it two weeks ago. I do not know whether there is any basis to the rumours."

"I hope things don't have to come to that," he said, adding that efforts should also be made to prevent the party from breaking up.