A campaign appears to be underway to discredit Julau member of Parliament Joseph Salang's effectiveness as an elected representative ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

His opponents, led by Dr James Masing - the information chief of de-registered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) - were in Julau last week and met some 50 village chiefs.

Many of whom reportedly criticised their MP for his alleged failure to implement development projects in the area as promised.

Other leaders present were Ulu Rajang MP Billy Abit Jo and state assemblypersons John Sikie and Larry Sng.

The meeting which followed the officiating of a sepak takraw court also coincided with a visit to the area by Salang, Stanley Ajang and other leaders from the rival faction in the defunct PBDS.

Of late, both factions have been making frequent visits to the Julau parliamentary constituency - one of the six parliamentary seats held by PBDS.

The Barisan Nasional component party was de-registered by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) following a bitter leadership struggle. Subsequently, its president Daniel Tajem and his deputy Salang submitted an appeal letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

If a decision is not reached soon, then the premier and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who also helms the state BN, will decide on the final list of candidates for the polls.

'Performed credibly'

"It is quite clear some people are trying to discredit Salang with the view not to get him re-nominated for the seat," according to PBDS deputy Youth leader Anthony Nais.

"But as wakil rakyat Salang has performed credibly, as far as we are concerned, and we see no reason why he should not be re-nominated," he added.

Salang was picked as the BN candidate for Jualu in the last parliamentary elections. The seat was previously held by Sng Chee Hua, Masing's running mate in the PBDS electoral dispute.

Sng, dropped as the BN candidate in 1999, is said to be keen to re-contest in his old seat.

Meanwhile, party leaders aligned to the Tajem-Salang group said they expected a decision from the premier "within a week or two" on their appeal letter.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed," one of them said.