Crisis-ridden Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) is now getting itself ready for a battle royale with a notice appearing in local newspapers today that its 6 th triennial delegates conference (TDC) will be held at Santubong Resort on July 26-27.

The resort, about 30km from Kuching City in Damai, is owned by a company controlled by Sarawak businessman extraordinarie Ting Pek Khiing. It has the largest conference hall of all hotels in Kuching.

The notice signed by PBDS secretary-general Stanley Ajang Batok, who is also state assemblyperson for Belaga, said the conference would begin at 8.30 am on the first day.

It will start with the election of a permanent chairman after which it will confirm the minutes of

the last TDC.

After reports from the party's supreme council reviewing the activities and progress during the years since the last TDC in 2000, the conference will start the process of electing members to the new supreme council as well as the auditor or auditors for the ensuing three years.

No opening ceremony

At last month's supreme council meeting, it was decided that this time the TDC would be "a family

affair" with no official opening ceremony.

The last item on the forthcoming TDC agenda is to decide on any motion or resolution either from the supreme council or any branch member.

Ajang said such motion or resolution would be allowed only if 14 days' notice has been given before the day at the meeting provided that in the event of a motion or resolution being of an urgent or immediate nature, a short notice may be given to the secretary-general.

With PBDS president Leo Moggie stepping down as party chief, there is going to be a keen contest for the top party posts.

Long-time deputy president Daniel Tajem has announced he is offering himself for election to the top post, with treasurer-general and Julau member of parliament Joseph Salang Gandum for the deputy president's post.

Tajem will be challenged by information chief Dr James Masing, who is also a member of the state cabinet. Masing's running-mate for the deputy presidency is Chinese businessman Sng Chee Hua, currently a vice-president of the party.

The party has been split into two factions, one led by Tajem and the other by Masing, and the groups are expected to field their own sets of candidates to vie for all the elected posts in the 32- member supreme council.

The big question is how the delegates will vote - either en bloc or decide individually on who they want in the supreme council.

Both sides are claiming the support from the majority of branches eligible to vote and they have been campaigning hard on the ground.

A credentials committee established recently and headed by party veteran Dr Jawie Masing will begin soon the task to scrutinise which of some 250 branches will be eligible to attend and send delegates to vote.

The committee's decision is final and is not subject to any appeal.

Accusation

Meanwhile, PBDS Youth leader Joseph Entulu, who is also an assistant state minister and aligned to the Masing-Sng camp, had in a recent newspaper interview accused their rivals of "manipulating the minutes of some party branches."

Reacting to this, Ajang told malaysiakini today that such a serious allegation should be thoroughly

investigated.

"If it is found there is no basis to such an allegation, action should also be taken against anyone for making any false allegation that could tarnish the party's image."

A senior party leader who asked not to be identified described Entulu's allegation as "an act of desperation."

"They know what they themselves have done, and think other people are also doing it," he said.

"It's a desperate act which also indicates some discord within the Masing-Sng faction."