Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) executive secretary Douglas Alau has lodged a police report in Kuching against former information chief Dr James Masing for allegedly abusing his powers as a state cabinet minister.

Alau, who is aligned to the rival Tajem-Salang camp, made the report at the Sekama police station at noon today. He was accompanied by party vice-president Gabriel Adit and several other officials.

Alau claimed that Masing ( right ) - the state minister of social development and urbanisation - had given instructions to Sibu Civic Centre manager John Wong Siong Cheng to cancel a venue booking for a PBDS dialogue session, 'Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat'.

The police report, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini , alleged that the directive had been issued through the ministry's principal assistant secretary, Winston Bale ak Utot.

Alau said the hall at the civic centre had been booked on Aug 26 and that Wong had confirmed this in writing. Arrangements were then made to host some 3,000 people expected to attend the dialogue session, scheduled for Saturday.

However, a letter dated Aug 30 - which Alau said he received yesterday - informed him that the booking had been cancelled, without citing reasons.

Clarification sought

Alau said Adit, the organising chairperson, contacted Wong yesterday afternoon and was told about the directive.

"Adit, as a member of the Sibu Civic Centre management board, sought clarification from the ministry official concerned, (who) told him that he had received the directive from the minister (Masing)," said Alau.

Adit also contacted board chairperson Wong Soon Koh, who is a member of the state cabinet. However, apart from expressing sympathies, Soon Koh said he could not do anything as the matter was out of his hands.

"In the eyes of the public, such action on the part of the minister constitutes abuse of power. This is because Dr Masing is involved in a leadership dispute within PBDS which is awaiting a decision from the Registrar of Societies," Alau said.

He alleged that Masing had exceeded his powers as a minister with responsibility for managing civic centres throughout Sarawak, in order to gain support from party members who are trying to wrest control of the PBDS leadership.

"As a party member and executive secretary of PBDS, I call on the police to investigate the matter and to take action accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, PBDS Youth deputy chief Anthony Nais said in a statement that it was now proven that Masing had lied after claiming that he did not have any part in cancelling the booking.

Nais said Masing should resign his post as minister or be dismissed from the state cabinet.

"If it turns out that he did have a hand in this, then a serious question would arise as to whether he is fit to represent PBDS in the government," Nais said.

"After all, PBDS is a Barisan Nasional component party. Even opposition parties should not be deprived of the privilege of using a civic centre."