The Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) has approved several amendments to its constitution, including inserting a waiting period before new members are eligible to vie for top posts.

The party's general assembly meeting held over the weekend in Kuching decided that new members can only contest for top posts after six years.

Explaining this, SPDP president William Mawan said "new people cannot just come in and bulldoze their way to the presidency".

The move is seen as a way to prevent the meteoric rise of certain politicians who are expected to move to SPDP from the trouble-ridden Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

The latter has been embroiled in a protracted leadership tussle that is expected to be resolved when fresh party elections are held in October.

While SPDP has never denied the possible entry of PBDS representatives, Mawan has said his party would rather take "the whole lot" - if matters come to that - than just a few elected representatives.

Exodus from PBDS?

There is disagreement between the two rival factions in PBDS as to which delegates are entitled to attend and vote. The faction led by Dr James Masing wants to use the delegates list of 2000.

The Daniel Tajem faction, while agreeable, wants this amended to exclude some 26 registered branches and to include an almost equal number registered after 2000, so none of the branches will take legal action for being excluded.

If Masing insists on the 2000 list, it could throw a spanners in the works and prevent the party elections from being held on Oct 9-10.

If elections are not held. the party runs the risk of being deregistered for the second time, thus raising the question as to whether Masing and his supporters will exit the PBDS.

The Barisan Nasional, of which PBDS is a component party, is not in favour of a new party being formed, leaving disgruntled elected representatives the option of joining other state BN parties like Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Sarawak United People's Party or SPDP.

Meanwhile, SPDP has quickly moved to fill the secretary-general's post left vacant by the death of Dr Judson Tagal ( photo ) in the July 12 helicopter crash in Sarawak. The new appointee is Sylvester Entrie, formerly the Youth chief and an assistant minister in the state cabinet.

Hii Eii Sing took over as deputy secretary-general from Paul Igai, now a political secretary to the Chief Minister. The new Youth chief is Jelaing Mersat, who is also the member of Parliament for Saratok.

Other officials are organising secretary Jacob Sagan, with Richard Wong as his deputy, and publicity chief Peter Nansian.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.