Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is going ahead with its triennial delegates convention in September but party leaders are keeping mum on whether there will be party polls as well.

PBB deputy president Alfred Jabu told reporters after the party's supreme council meeting yesterday that the convention would be held in September "but the date will only be decided in July".

The last party convention was held in 2002.

For this year's meeting, all the 62 party divisions which have organised their respective meetings are eligible to send delegates.

According to Jabu, the line-up of candidates for the various contested posts would also be known by July.

Interestingly, Jabu flanked by party treasurer and state Second Minister for Planning and Resource Management Awang Tengah Ali Hasan presided over the media conference instead of PBB senior vice-president Adenan Satem, as is usually the case when Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is not around.

Lately, rival groups in PBB have been going around to meet members and supporters as meetings of party branches were underway in an expectation that there would be contests of top posts in the coming convention.

Media reports have linked Jabu and Adenan to a series of road shows being disguised as development seminars organised by the state government.

Speculation is rife that Adenan, defeated in1998 in the contest for the deputy president's post, will be taking on the incumbent Abang Johari Tun Openg, the state Housing Minister. So far Johari has said little of his intention in public, but he is expected to defend his seat.

Adenan is clear favourite

With reports that Taib may call it quit soon, and Adenan talking frequently in public about the need for a smooth leadership transition in the state, another political permutation is that if Taib should decide not to continue in the post as party president, Jabu, as the more senior of the two deputy presidents, may move up to take over as president temporarily with Johari and Adenan remaining in status quo.

"But if there is a contest of the deputy president for the bumiputra wing, Johari will be washed out," according to a veteran party leader who asked not to be identified.

Adenan and his men are clearly in control of most party branches, divisions and delegates, he added.

However, there is yet another option if Taib chooses to get the party leader elected differently - that is to apply the new provision in the party constitution and allow the caucus which is made up of the party's elected representatives and senators decide on the nomination of candidate for the post of chief minister.

Whoever is chosen as chief minister from the party automatically becomes party president, even though some legal minded party leaders question the wisdom of such a move as it does seem to go against the grains, the right of party members to choose their party leader.

Whatever moves Taib chooses to take, it is still widely accepted in the state that Adenan, the federal natural resources and environment minister remains the favorite for now to succeed him (Taib) as chief minister.