Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Daniel Tajem said today that he would not want to be party to an election process that is fraught with irregularities.

He claimed the irregularities would exceed even those of the 2000 party elections if the triennial delegates conference (TDC) scheduled for Oct 9-10 makes use of the delegates list compiled that year.

Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad had proposed that the list be used.

Tajem's faction is locked in a leadership tussle with that of rival leader Dr James Masing, who has said Tajem should forget about the party constitution and resolve the problem in a "political way".

However, Tajem said this would invite trouble and could risk the party being de-registered again. It was deregistered last December and then reinstated before the general election in March, on condition that fresh elections be held to resolve the long-standing leadership rivalry.

Tajem said that in 2000, 25 unregistered branches had been allowed to send delegates to the TDC, while 28 registered branches had been shut out and could not send delegates.

If the list is used, another 34 branches registered after that year could also be shut out, he said, expressing his unwillingness to be party to such an arrangement.

Nomination forms

Tajem also said the supreme council has made its views known to Radzi, who has been appointed as a neutral chairperson of the PBDS credentials committee which is responsible for organising the elections.

He said he was doubtful that the credentials committee could resolve the matter as there is little time left before the TDC.

"We have not even sent out nomination forms to the (more than 200) branches to nominate delegates. These forms must be signed by the principal officer-bearers of each branch making such nominations," he noted.

Tajem said he had told party leaders to start preparing for the TDC and to go on the ground to meet members of branches, although there is speculation that the party may be facing de-registration again.

"Yes, I've heard of the possibility from reliable persons but am treating it as nothing more than a rumour. We are going ahead with preparations for the TDC," he said.

Leaders of both factions have been going round the state to meet delegates from various branches to drum up support ahead of the TDC.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.