Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) leader Dr James Masing is not too optimistic about the result from the efforts undertaken by his rival Daniel Tajem to overturn the party's de-registration.

He was quoted in the Sarawak Tribune as saying that the chances of having a favourable outcome would have been greater if the appeal letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been a joint one.

At any rate, Masing added, there was not much chance for a reconciliation with Tajem.

Tajem ( photo ), party deputy president Joseph Salang and secretary-general Stanley Ajang submitted the 86-page appeal letter to the premier via an official in Putrajaya on Friday.

PBDS was de-registered last month after Registrar of Societies Dahari Ali said he was dissatisfied with the explanation by Tajem's faction on the attendance of delegates from 29 branches at the recent party polls.

BN leaders anxious

Abdullah had later said that all was not lost for the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party and told its leaders that he would consider an appeal.

Tajem and his leaders have kept mum on the issue, saying that they would leave it to the prime minister to decide.

However, sources told malaysiakini there was a strong possibility that Abdullah would make his decision before the Chinese New Year celebrations this month.

They added that the BN top leadership was anxious to resolve the crisis before the forthcoming general election.

Following its de-registration, PBDS' eight state assemblypersons and six members of parliament are now left without a party but their positions are not in jeopardy as they were all elected on BN tickets.