Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has decided to hold its triennial delegates convention in Miri for three days, starting Sept 15.

The decision came as a surprise as this is the first time for the party to hold its convention outside Kuching.

The dates of the convention - Sept 15-17 - have not been announced officially but, according to well-informed sources, have been decided by a group of party leaders with the approval of party president Abdul Taib Mahmud who is also Sarawak's chief minister.

The decision to go ahead with the convention this year was made at a party supreme council meeting last Friday which was chaired by deputy president (Pesaka wing) Alfred Jabu.

About 2000 people, including around 700 delegates from the 62 divisions throughout Sarawak, are expected to attend.

This year's convention has created a lot of interest as it will see party elections during which delegates will decide on the composition of the supreme council for a new three-year term.

There is also speculation that Taib will be taking his first step in what some quarters have described as a graceful and honourable exit from politics.

'Moving up the ladder'

"We are expecting a lot of things to happen," a senior party leader who preferred not to be indentified told malaysiakini.

While talks of PBB senior vice-president Adenan Satem 'going up one step' in the party hierarchy and possibly even taking over as president from Taib this September, is nothing new, there is also talks of Taib himself 'moving up the ladder' with the mention of a new honorific title for him.

But some political observers have noted that Taib has also said that he will lead the state Barisan Nasional into the next state election.

"But politicians can say things that suit them, and when the time comes can always explain or probably don't bother even to explain if things turned out differently," the same PBB leader said.

Over past two months, Adenan has been busy campaigning on the ground in anticipation of party polls. He has attended a series of government-organised development seminars, one of which is scheduled to move to Sri Aman this weekend.

However, according to reporters covering earlier seminars the participants had not actually warmed to Adenan. "They found some of his jokes rather crude like the one on Bekenu state assemblyperson Aidan Wing and his speeches boring," one of the reporters told malaysiakini.

Johari a better speaker

In contrast, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday gathering in Miri recently which saw the presence of Adenan's party rival Abang Johari Tun Openg, PBB deputy president (Bumiputra wing) and state housing minister, was well attended.

"The gathering responded enthusiastically to Abang Johari," several reporters covering the event said.

Johari, son of Sarawak's first governor the late Tun Abang Haji Openg, has always been seen as a better public speaker than Adenan and crowds easily warm up to him given his down-to-earth mannerisms and easily approachable nature and friendliness.

But his problem is that if there is a contest and he has to defend his seat against a challenge from Adenan, he (Johari) does not have the number that will save him from defeat.

His supporters are openly admitting this, and the only person who can put a stop to this is Taib himself. There has been talks that there may not be an election for the top posts in the coming convention in Miri.

"Words are out that there will be no contest for the posts of president and deputy presidents," a long-time PBB member said.

He also said that Taib had apparently changed his attitude towards Johari recently when he seemed to heap praises on him for doing a good job as housing minister, pointing to the large sums of money he had been able to get from the Federal Government for housing projects in Sarawak.

Head of State

"It's really buffling and one wonders what Taib is really up to nowadays," he added.

Meantime, whether Taib will stand aside and let a younger leader take over as president of the party or even let Jabu move up temporarily is also subject of much speculation.

"But there is no doubt about Taib planning for his choice to fit in and for him to make the eventual exit," the party member said.

The timing of the appointment of Sarawak's next Yang Di-Pertua Negeri may also have a bearing on Taib's decision.

Taib is also believed to be keen to become Head of State upon his retirement as chief minister.

The term of the present Head of State Tun Mohamad Salahuddin Barieng will expire at the end of next year.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.