A proxy war is on the cards in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu's (PBB) Batu Kawa division. On June 25, there will be a contest for the division head post between the factions supporting PBB deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg and senior vice-president Adenan Satem.

Incumbent head Mohd Hashim Yap, who is Padawan Municipal Council deputy chairperson and elected PBB supreme council member, told malaysiakini today that he is going to defend his post.

The Adenan supporter is expected to be challenged by the division's former youth chief Shaperi Tambi, an Abang Johari supporter.

Another Abang Johari backer, Narawi Salleh will challenge the division's incumbent deputy head Latip Seman.

According to Mohd Hashim, the Batu Kawa division, which has 10 branches, will hold its meeting in Kuching and will be officiated by Adenan

He said about 20 elected PBB representatives have been invited to the opening ceremony.

Youth positions

Apart from the so-called proxy war, there has been a lot of interest within the party on the divisional elections, especially after Shamsuddin Unai won unopposed as Batu Kawa division youth chief over the weekend.

Shamsuddin was previously the deputy youth head. The new deputy youth chief is Abdul Rahman Suhaili, also elected unopposed.

A PBB division leader told malaysiakini that the results of the youth elections had boosted the confidence of the Shaperi-Narawi tie-up for the division's top two posts.

Observers put their chances at 50:50, with one saying the chances would have been better for the Abang Johari faction if Ahmad Shafiee Yaman had contested against Mohd Hashim.

Ahmad Shafiee, a former director of RTM Sarawak and former secretary-general of state youth organisation Saberkas, had withdrawn from the contest without reasons.

"Anyway, Ahmad Shaifee is himself a Abang Johari supporter and will lend his support to Mohd Hashim's challenger," said the observer.

Incumbent unperturbed

On the other hand, Mohd Hashim, a successful rice dealer, appeared to be unperturbed by the challenge and expressed confidence in retaining his post.

However, should he lose, it would signal that the support for Adenan ( right ), who may challenge Abang Johari ( left ) for the deputy president post, is not as solid as it seemed.

Meanwhile, the PBB Padungan division on Sunday night passed a similar resolution as its Tarat counterpart demanding that only the post of president be uncontested.

Padungan is headed by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry parliamentary secretary Rohani Karim

Mohd Hashim said the Batu Kawa division would also adopt a similar resolution.

In another development, PBB may order a fresh election for the Demak Laut youth head post following the defeat of its incumbent head Jolly Merikan, a Kuching City South councillor and Johari backer, in a three-cornered contest.

He lost to Wan Hamzah Paiee, an Adenan supporter.

Contacted today, Jolly said he has not been informed of the fresh poll. He had made an official complaint alleging irregularities regarding delegates who voted from two unregistered branches.

Jolly had complained to the party secretary-general Ambrose Blikau, who referred the matter to PBB Youth chief Douglas Uggah.

"The decision whether to order a re-election will depend on the PBB Youth Exco after consulting the top party leadership," said a party leader.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.