The Masing-Sng faction suffered their first major setback in the run-up to the party election today when their rivals outvoted them in the election of the chairperson for the crucial credentials committee during the party's supreme council meeting.

A party stalwart Dr Jawie Masing, proposed by the Tajem-Salang faction to be the committee's

chairperson, secured 18 votes with 13 against.