Senior leaders of the deregistered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) hope to seek the intervention of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resuscitate their 20-year-old party.

The leaders are planning to personally hand him an appeal letter on Wednesday. They are hoping that the premier, in his capacity as home minister, could reverse the decision made by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Friday.

Party vice-president Gabriel Adit told reporters today that Daniel Tajem, the party's president, and several other senior leaders would attempt to meet Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur.

Yesterday, the premier said all was not lost for PBDS and that he was waiting for their appeal.

Adit said this has given hope to the party's leaders and members.

News of the deregistration, which came in the wake of a protracted leadership dispute, was met with shock and anger.

Tajem was forced to issue a press statement over the weekend pleading for calm and urging members not to abandon hope.

PBDS has 14 elected representatives, nine of whom are aligned to the rival group led by Dr James Masing.

'Temporary parking'

The state Barisan Nasional supreme council met briefly yesterday to discuss the latest development and agreed to provide 'temporary parking' to the elected representatives.

The council will meet again in the next few days to decide the placement of these representatives in the other BN component parties in the state -Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) and Sarawak Democratic Progress Party (SPDP).

Meanwhile, Sarawak Chief Minister and state BN chief Abdul Taib Mahmud ruled out the possibility of placing all the representatives in one party.

He said this in reference to SPDP president William Mawan's offer to temporarily house the 14 in his party.

When pointed out that the five aligned to Tajem would not join or 'park' themselves in other parties, Abdul Taib replied: "If they don't, they can stand under the sun."