The Daniel Tajem-led faction of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) today extended an olive branch to its rival group led by former information chief Dr James Masing with an offer to accommodate them if they agree to return to the party's fold.

The group's information chief Paul Kadang said in a four-page statement this afternoon that "notwithstanding all that has happened, the party would like to reiterate its genuine desire to offer accommodation to Dr Masing and his group by returning to the fold of the party."

He added that they should acknowledge the properly-elected leadership of the party under Daniel Tajem ( photo ) as president and Joseph Salang as deputy president, and help build a cohesive team to serve the interests of the people of Sarawak, in particular the Dayak community.

"We need to present a united front as a Dayak-based party in pursuit of our common objectives in the context of the Barisan Nasional both at state and federal levels," Kadang said.

He added: "No one can disagree that the country expects nothing less from us as we proudly celebrate our 40th Independence anniversary through Malaysia this year."

Without basis

Kadang also dismissed Masing's claims that branches supporting him and his group had been shut out from the process of party nominations and elections recently.

Contrary to the claims by the Masing faction that the secretary-general Stanley Ajang had failed to carry out his duties in handling the submission of reports and annual returns of certain branches, Kadang said, "the truth is that he (Ajang) had been prevented from performing his duties."

"Sad to say, his role and duty as secretary-general which is clearly stipulated in the party constitution was pointedly ignored by Masing and his group," he added.

Kadang said the Masing faction for various reasons had deliberately bypassed the secretary-general and party headquarters and tried instead to get the credentials committee of the party even before it was formed to accept the annual returns (reports and minutes of branches' meetings).

By doing that, according to him, the Masing faction had failed to follow rules and procedures and party conventions.

Although Masing and his faction claimed that the annual returns were contained in seven metal boxes, locked and under seal, and delivered to party headquarters, officials at party headquarters had never seen the contents because the keys were kept by them.

"They had also left written instructions that at no cost should the boxes be opened without their presence," he added.

Probable motives

Kadang also said the Masing faction's motives and intentions were highly questionable.

"Given the circumstances, for Dr Masing and his group to blame the secretary-general for the predicament that they now find themselves in is to say the least, most unfair and most unreasonable."

He said there were many probable motives that could be deduced for Masing and his group in submitting the annual returns of certain branches using the mode of submission that they had chosen to do so.

"First, it is to give an impression of strength and to cow their opponents into submission which is clearly intended to mislead party members into thinking they are politically stronger."

"As we know, their claim that they are enjoying considerable support on the ground is very subjective. We know where the real strength lies, not just among ordinary members but also the support of the people that the party represents on the ground," he added.

Second, it was to prevent the party headquarters from discovering defects, forgeries and falsification of documents.

Third, it was to keep the names of branch officials and delegates confidential and out of reach.

"We can venture to make a few more suggestions but we think these would suffice to indicate their probable motives for not following rules and procedures."

Kadang added that "no one should blithely disregard rules and procedures and yet expect to be exonerated from any blame."

Leave it to ROS

The PBDS information chief said it was now best to leave to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and other relevant authorities to act accordingly since both sides had given their sides to the story.

"As far as our group is concerned, we have followed the laws of the country, the party constitution and the Societies Act with regards to all matters related to the conduct of the party's nominations and elections.

"We have confined our activities within the parameters of the laws and have observed rules and party conventions."

Kadang said if the Masing faction was sincere in contending that their own version of triennial delegates conference (TDC) in Bintulu on July 24 was legal, "why are they so adamant in insisting on a fresh election?

"By so doing, are they not admitting that they have not done things the legal way?" he asked.