Chief Minister and Sarawak Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud today declined to comment on the new leadership in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

After attending a meet-the-people session at the coastal Malay village of Bako, about 30km from Kuching, reporters asked him for his comments on the latest developments in the Dayak-based party, one of the four components in the state's ruling coalition.

"Please don't ask me that question," was his reply.

His response left reporters and those present wondering at his reluctance to discuss in public the on-going PBDS crisis, in particular on Daniel Tajem and his team who were returned unopposed after nominations closed yesterday.

Close ties

None of the leader and supporter in the rival faction led by State Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dr James Masing was nominated by 153 accredited branches vetted by the party's three-man credentials committee.

Masing, as a member of Taib's cabinet since 1994, is said to be close to the chief minister. Masing was also open about his personal ties with Taib after it became an issue at an early stage of the PBDS crisis.

And as late as last week, Masing also stated that Taib, as the Sarawak BN chairperson, has the right to help resolve the party crisis if it gets out of hand.

On record, Tajem was one of Taib's three deputy chief ministers in 1987. He joined the infamous Ming Court revolt against Taib that year. When it failed, Tajem also lost his cabinet post and spent a decade in the political wilderness.

TDC with a difference?

With yesterday's development, it is now considered unlikely that the Masing faction will attend the party's triennial delegates conference (TDC) scheduled on July 26-27 or take an injunction to try and stop it since the election issue is now seen as academic.

"The TDC will now end up as a family get-together, a meeting between leaders and members over lunches and dinners," one party official said.

"Tajem as Moggie's successor will want to thank the delegates for their support and outline his and his team's plans on what they want to do within the next three years to strengthen the party and its role as a member of the Barisan Nasional," he added.

The newly-elected PBDS leaders are writing to the BN to inform coalition seniors of the yesterday's results.