The party is over, come back! This was the message from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) deputy president-elect Joseph Salang Gandum today to members "who were misled by persons purporting to be leaders".

He was referring to those who joined road shows in several major towns in Sarawak in support of the faction led by former information chief Dr James Masing, who is also state social development and urbanisation minister.

'They've all enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Sarawak, and it's about time they go back to their longhouses to be with their wives and children," Salang said at a press conference.

He added that although there would not be any election at the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference ( TDC) he would like the members concerned to attend as observers.

The TDC will be held on July 26-27 at the Santubong Resort, about 30km from Kuching. A grand dinner will also held on July 26 to mark the party's immediate past president Leo Moggie's 25th anniversary as a minister. He is currently the energy, communications and multimedia minister.

Asked to comment on reports that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi might also be present at the dinner, Salang said he was not aware of this.

Reconciliation efforts

On the likelihood of reconciliation efforts, he said once the new leadership is installed at the TDC, it would give priority to the reconciliation of members at the grassroots level rather than those at the top.

His rationale for this was "because leaders come and go."

Earlier, he said his group did everything possible to avert the crisis from reaching its present stage but the overtures to avoid at least a contest for the top posts were rejected by the Masing faction.

"Instead I was even chided and ridiculed for making the suggestion ( that the two top posts and possibly five top posts should not be contested," he said.

Salang publicly stated in April that he would be willing to withdraw from contesting the No 2 post to make way for Masing with Daniel Tajem as president, succeeding Moggie.

In reaction to this, Masing said it was too late and indicated that the contest would be one where the winner takes all.