Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has decided to send vice-president Peter Runin and secretary-general Stanley Ajang to meet with Barisan Nasional and Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad "to get things going for the party elections " scheduled for October.

PBDS president Daniel Tajem told malaysiakini this was decided at the party's supreme council meeting in Engkilili, Sri Aman, over the weekend.

The go-ahead for preparatory work for the triennial delegates conference (TDC) was to have been given after Gawai Dayak (a harvest festival) in early June.

But the process was stalled due to the change of guard in the BN secretary-general's post, when Khalil Yaacob was appointed the Governor of Malacca.

It is not known whether Radzi ( photo ) will also chair the BN technical committee, to replace lawyer Shafee Salleh whom Khalil had nominated to oversee the PBDS elections.

The technical committee has agreed on the composition of the credentials committee which will have the final say in all party election matters. It has yet to meet.

Tajem said the party has set up its own technical committee with Runin as chairperson to prepare the necessary documents ahead of the branch annual general meetings and the TDC.

"We are only awaiting the green light for the PBDS secretary-general to send out notices to branches to hold their AGMs within a specified time," he said.

'Ready for anything'

Tajem refused to reveal the matters to be discussed with Radzi.

However, malaysiakini understands that these will include a report on recent developments, including the sacking of 12 party members. Among them were former secretary-general Dublin Unting and former vice-president Sng Chee Hua.

Former president Leo Moggie ( photo ) was to have attended the weekend meeting, but had to call it off at the last minute to attend a function involving premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi the same day in Kuala Lumpur.

"Anyway, Moggie is also in touch with (Abdullah)," Tajem added.

Recent press reports suggested that the faction led by former information chief Dr James Masing, may boycott the TDC. Some of those in his group have publicly warned of the possibility of de-registration of the party for the second time.

Commenting on this, a Tajem faction leader who asked not to be identified said: "At the party level we are making all the preparations for the elections in accordance with the constitution. We will invite everyone eligible to take part."

He added that the party was prepared for any eventuality.