Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) acting president Daniel Tajem and treasurer-general Joseph Salang Gandum have been returned unopposed as president and deputy president respectively for a three-year term this afternoon after nominations closed.

The results were announced at the PBDS headquarters in Kuching by the three-man credentials committee chairperson Dr Jawie Masing.

He said Tajem ( left ) received all the 147 nominations that came back after nomination forms were sent out to 153 accredited branches, but two of the nominations were rejected on technical grounds.

Salang, the member of parliament for Julau, received 146 nominations but one was rejected also for technical reasons.

Former information chief and state social development and urbanisation minister Dr James Masing ( right ) who announced that he is also contesting for the No 1 post and his running-mate for deputy president Sng Chee Hua did not receive a single nomination.

Whole team in

Major (Rtd) Peter Runin, Ngemah state assemblyperson Gabriel Adit (who is also the party's disciplinary committee chairperson) and Lubok Antu member of parliament Jawah Gerang were also returned unopposed as vice-presidents. They all received 147 nominations each, but had one of their nominations rejected each, also on technical grounds.

Jawie said as there were no other nominations, he declared Tajem and Salang as duly returned unopposed to the two top posts in the party.

Also returned unopposed to 15 supreme council posts were Anthony Liman, Kilat Beriak, Baru Bian, Robert Resli, Telajan Luyoh, Norina Umoi, Edward Brandah, Stephen Randi, Brendan Bujang, Kisun Munang, Presley Siros, Ruis Jugah, Juro Broah, Bunsi Kasin and Christopher Sawan.

All aligned to the Tajem-Salang faction, they secured 147 nominations but had one nomination each rejected on technical grounds.

Jawie told reporters that the party had a total of 258 registered branches, but 23 were disqualified as they were defunct. Nineteen were not functioning anymore "as they were out of time because of new electoral boundary delineation."

This left 235 branches being used as a denominator or threshold and based on the supreme council's recent decision that only branches existing up to Aug 24, 2002 and registered with the Registrar of Societies by Feb 23 could attend the forthcoming triennial delegates conference, the credentials committee considered only a total of 181 branches.

According to Jawie, this was the list passed on to the committee by secretary-general Stanley Ajang and also approved by the ROS.

Time irrelevant

After scrutinising the list of 181 branches, eventually nomination forms were sent out only to 153 as the rest could not be accredited on the basis of certain criteria. All but six of the branches returned their nomination forms, duly filled and completed, to the credentials committee.

Jawie explained that the credentials committee decided to announce the results today and not tomorrow because "it is already immaterial and not necessary to wait till tomorrow."

In his post-election victory, Tajem said the winners would stretch their hands out for reconciliation and hold out the olive branch to all those who had been engaged in a heated debate prior to the TDC.

He said he alone could not propose any formula for a reconciliation as he has to discuss and consult with other supreme council members.

Meanwhile, all pro-Tajem/Salang supporters have also been returned unopposed for the various posts in both the women and youth wings.

Youth and Women's wings

Heading the Youth wing now is Christopher Gira with Anthony Nais as deputy chairperson and Willie Rabong and Frederick Sebungkok as vice-chairpersons.

Ten others elected youth committee members were Dr Thomas Lumit, Pehan Majis, Langga Lias, Rogers Runin, Raymond Daniel Tajem, Paul Raja, Sunok Jama, Bunyau Kasa, Sudok Mesa and Clement George.

Agnes Lia, the women head, was returned unopposed to the post. Her deputy is Catherine Tamoh, and vice-chairpersons are Maria Abok and Bejau Lit.

Ten others elected as committee members were Annie Jamit, Noria Sejon, Conney, Ledwina Jingga, Mandalin Ugap, Nunya Ahok, Tinah Jerome, Agnes Chandu, Cecilia Richard and Manny Ungpari.

In an immediate reaction, Dr James Masing said "I'm ashamed and embarrassed".

His running mate, Sng told malaysiakini that he felt sad as "a cloud of uncertainty is now hanging over PBDS".

"But my political struggle within the Barisan Nasional for the rakyat has not ended yet", he added.

It is still unclear what the Masing faction will now do, but it will not be so easily brushed aside since it has nine elected representatives - three members of parliament and six state representatives.