The Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) faction led by Daniel Tajem is ready with its reply to the recent show-cause letter issued by the Registrar of Societies, said the group's vice president Gabriel Adit.

A 650-page reply has been compiled to the ROS query on the status of delegates from 29 out of some 150 branches who attended the triennial delegates conference (TDC) on July 27-28.

Gabriel said today that his faction was confident of providing a satisfactory response in order to prevent further trouble, including the possibility of the party being de-registered.

"We are not taking anything for granted...we're treating the matter seriously. We have gone over the grounds very thoroughly and will be giving a comprehensive reply," he said.

Tajem, a lawyer by training, has headed a team comprising other lawyers - some of whom are party members - in preparing the reply.

At least seven sets of the reply will be compiled. Apart from the one submitted to the ROS, others will be sent to retiring Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( left ) and successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. (right )

Tajem and secretary-general Stanley Ajang have been invited to Putrajaya on Friday to join Mahathir for buka puasa on his last day in office. They may hand him the copy then.

Masing's move awaited

Subject to ROS acceptance of the reply, Tajem's group should be able to get the all-clear on the election of office-bearers conducted in July.

The ROS has already ruled as "invalid" the two-day TDC held in Bintulu from July 24 by rival faction leader Dr James Masing.

There has been considerable speculation as to what Masing is likely to do next. Speculation has it that the faction will either form a new party and apply to join Barisan Nasional, or that members will 'park' themselves in other component parties.

There appears to be no likelihood of the Masing faction returning to the PBDS fold under the present leadership, as the differences are seen as irreconcilable.

Last week, Masing praised the leadership of Alfred Jabu, the senior deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB). This has triggered talk that Masing was paving the way to acquiring 'temporary membership' in PBB if this becomes necessary.

Masing described Jabu, one of the state's two deputy chief ministers, as "the Dr Mahathir of the Dayaks". So far Jabu has not reacted to this publicly.