Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) rival faction leader Dr James Masing today said the party could end up in even more serious trouble if it fails to resolve internal problems on its own.

If the Registrar of Societies (ROS) intervenes to make a decision, there is a possibility the party may even be de-registered.

Masing ( right ) was referring to problems arising from the rivalry between him and president Daniel Tajem, and a major dispute over rules and procedures relating to the recent party elections.

At a press conference, Masing said the Societies Act gives the ROS the authority to register and de-register a political party.

"If two factions cannot agree on how to manage a party, the ROS can dissolve the party," he said.

Masing was elected president by his faction at a triennial delegates conference (TDC) in Bintulu on July 24, when a supreme council was also put in place.

Tajem ( left ) said on July 25, that he would ask the ROS to determine the legal status of the rival supreme council, but also said he did not expect the party to be de-registered.

The following day, at another TDC in Kuching, Tajem was returned unopposed as president, along with Joseph Salang Gandum as his deputy.

Following both TDCs, Masing's group had called for fresh polls as a means of resolving the crisis.

However, the Tajem faction rejected the proposal, saying there was no justification for this because their TDC had complied with the laws of the country, the party constitution and the Societies Act.

Prospects dim

Masing said he saw little prospect for the two factions to come together, whatever the decision of the ROS might eventually be, because "it is obvious that no one is willing to give way".

To a question, Masing said his group would go along with any peace formula promoted by the top Barisan Nasional leadership if this would ensure that the coalition "remains workable, cohesive and intact in facing the general election".

However, he added the caveat that his group should "preferably" be included in any such formula.

Six state assemblypersons and three members of Parliament among the party's 14 elected representatives are aligned with the Masing camp.

Masing also said that, as far as he was aware, his group has not sent out any feelers to the Tajem faction for peace talks.

He ruled out a four-eyed meeting with Tajem, saying that "he (Tajem) cannot represent the others, nor I my own group"

"It would be better to have three or four persons from each group in whom the respective factions have trust," he added.