Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Daniel Tajem maintained today that the sacking in May of the 12 members, including controversial vice president Sng Chee Hua and former secretary-general Dublin Unting, from the party was "proper and valid".

"We uphold the supremacy of the party's supreme council, (which decided on the expulsion)," Tajem told malaysiakini today.

This was his first public reaction to Barisan Nasional secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad's statement that the sacking was tak sah or invalid after yesterday's BN technical committee meeting which overturned the decision.

The 12 were key figures and supporters of the Dr James Masing ( right ) faction who are embroiled in a protracted leadership struggle with the Tajem camp.

On the proposal to use the year 2000 delegates list for the Oct 9-10 party elections, Tajem said his group had also made their views known.

"I am sure our supreme council members will share our views on this," he said, referring to the party's SC meeting scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the two main issues.

Two weeks to reply

On the issue of the delegates list, Tajem said Radzi was merely exploring the acceptability of that list being used for the coming TDC.

"He was not forcing it down on us. He wants to find out how we feel," he added.

Both factions have been given two weeks to reply in writing to the proposal.

The Tajem faction is said to hold some reservations on adopting the same delegates list used four years ago as it involved constitutional issues.

Tajem said the party would issue a statement after members had considered the issues in depth at tomorrow's SC meeting to be held at party headquarters in Kuching.