Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was taken aback during a media conference in Kuching yesterday when asked to comment on a 'formula' to resolve the crisis in the de-registered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) ahead of the general election.

"Where? In Sarawak? I am not too sure," was his immediate reaction to a reporter's query.

This prompted Sarawak Chief Minister and state BN chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud who was present at the press conference to step in and explain the 'formula'.

Taib explained that the state BN might be forced to step in to offer a solution (concerning the candidate line-up) if the two rival factions in PBDS were not able to make peace before the general election.

Last week, Taib told reporters of a formula to the PBDS crisis but did not go into details.

Well-informed sources told malaysiakini there are two possibilities as to how the problems regarding candidates would be resolved.

The first is to get the present PBDS incumbents - all six MPs - to temporarily 'park' with other BN component parties, and for these parties to forward their names as candidates.

Moggie to stay on?

Secondly, the top BN leadership could decide to retain the status quo, meaning there will be no change, unless the incumbents decide on their own not to seek re-election.

Former PBDS president Leo Moggie, who is Minister of Energy,Communications and Multimedia, had announced his intention to step down long ago.

However, according to several sources, since many now want him to carry on as MP for Kanowit and minister and as circumstances have changed, Moggie may be forced to re-consider his earlier decision not to contest.

At yesterday's press conference at the end of a day's working visit to Kuching, the prime minister said he needed more time to decide on the PBDS appeal against the Registrar of Societies (ROS) decision in de-registering the party last December.

"Give me a little bit more time. It doesn't matter before or after the elections, " he added.

Meanwhile, the Borneo Post quoted Joseph Salang Gandum, the Julau member of Parliament and deputy president of the de-registered PBDS, as saying that he was optimistic the party's appeal would succeed and that the party would be re-instated before the elections.