The deregistration of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) or the Sarawak Dayak People's Party, has added to the Malaysian perception that the Dayaks are inconsequential or even irrelevant in the context of politics, according to a University Sarawak Malaysia (Unimas) senior lecturer.

"The present crop of Dayak politicians who tend to give the impression they are nothing more than a self-serving lot have let their own community down very badly," the lecturer who asked not to be identified.added.

"At least, Dr James Masing (state land development minister and rival faction leader of the deregistered PBDS) has the temerity to say that the Dayak leaders have only themselves to blame for what had happened to the party," he commented today.

He described the move by the Tajem group to challenge the home minister's decision in court as 'a waste of time and money.

"What practical purpose will it achieve at the end of th day?" he asked.

Echoing the same feelings, opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap) deputy president Justine Jinggut confided to malaysiakini that "after what happened to PBDS, the Dayaks can be considered irrelevant in the eyes of others."

"They have brought all this upon themselves and cannot blame others. They are so disunited. Everyone wants to be a leader," he added.

Further fragmentation

The deregistration has further led to the fragmentation of the Dayaks who make up about 50 per cent of Sarawak's 2.5 million population.

PBDS was largely Iban who made up most of its 130,000 registered members. The rest were the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu (Kayan/Kenyah/Kelabit/Lun Bawang) and a small number of Chinese.

Masing and eight other elected representatives from PBDS have joined the newly-formed multi-racial Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) which has been admitted into the Sarawak BN today. He is set to be its president.

The remaining five elected representatives aligned to former PBDS president Daniel Tajem have for the time being opted to stay where they are. They have been given several options - join the new party or other component parties in the BN or even form their own party.

While PRS has been admitted since its formation has the blessing of top BN leaders, any new party formed by the other PBDS group will have to apply to be admitted to the BN.

Jinggut also said "there is nothing to hold Chief Minister and state BN chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud back from calling an early state election if he wants to in line with his succession plan."

State elections are not due till 2006, but there has been speculation that it may be held much earlier.

Justine added: "Now Masing can call the shots (to choose the candidates he wants), leading to the phasing out of his opponents."