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Several top and middle-echelon leaders of Sarawak's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) have voiced grave concern that unless the frequent back-biting, cliques and intrigues and attempts to run some leaders down are stopped, the party could well face a serious split and go downhill.

The warning came during a closed-door debate on the presidential address during the two-day PBB convention attended by about 1000 delegates and observers from all 62 divisions of the party at a seaside resort in Kuching from July 14-15. PBB is the backbone of the ruling Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Malaysiakini was told that several senior party leaders, including deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg, had been unhappy at the way the debate was being organised. There was an attempt only to get a selected number of speakers to debate the presidential address.

"The rest from the floor just didn't get the opportunity to speak," according to one unhappy delegate."We don't know why this was done."

According to observers, the convention was intended to be an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) for delegates to formally pass a resolution to postpone the date of the party's elections, due in August this year, by another year in view of the forthcoming state elections.

Obviously, some party leaders had intended it also as an opportunity to bring every delegate and observer out to Kuching before the state elections - expected at anytime now.

Pantun message

It is not known why there were attempts to try and limit the number of speakers and to confine them only to those allowed by the organising chairman and his team. According to sources, if several of the organisers had been allowed their way, a lot of party leaders would not have had the chance even to debate the presidential address.

But such attempts were stymied when some of the senior leaders insisted on speaking. And it turned out to be an opportunity for a number of the top and middle-echelon party leaders to address what they clearly felt were several critical issues facing the party.

For instance, PBB vice-president and state Housing minister Celestine Ujang (who will not stand in the forthcoming elections after 25 years in politics) told the delegates that the habit of some groups within the party of trying to run others down must stop.

He said it would not help PBB for leaders to be always suspicious of each other. "If there are problems let's discuss them openly," he advised.

Ujang, an Iban from Bintulu, quoted an Iban pantun :" Ikan pelesik buai keai, ikan enseluai buai kepantai. Entika baik galik, enti enggai asuh pulai. " In short, what he was trying to say was: If you don't want us, let us go.

This message has a special significance, especially after some groups have tried to run down Ujang and several other party leaders, including PBB secretary-general Leonard Linggi Jugah and Abang Johari, and tried to put them in a bad light in the eyes of the party president.

Women's wing plea

PBB youth leader and assistant minister Gramong Juna lost no time taking the opportunity to remind all party leaders of the importance of party unity and of fulfilling many of the promises made to youth members.

He spoke in Iban, the dialect of Sarawak's largest indigenous group, and the gist was basically this: "We come from the people, we are elected by the people, our downfall is also determined by the people."

Abang Johari, PBB second deputy president and state Tourism minister, likened PBB to a big ship in which everyone has a role to play. He said it was important that the captain be given the right information, 'otherwise the ship will go down'.

The message, according to political observers familiar with PBB's internal workings, was clearly meant for a small group within the party who had clearly tried to sideline Johari.

PBB Women's wing head and assistant minister Sharifah Mordiah pleaded with the top leadership not to reduce the number of women representatives in the state legislative assembly. "We have only two out of 62 elected state assembly members so please don't reduce the number," she said.

She also said the party leaders and members should not talk about Keadilan and PAS. "Put our own house in order first before we condemn others," she said.

Indicative speeches

There has been talk which is gaining currency both within and outside the party that one of the two party's assemblywomen Dona Babel, a former educationist, is to be replaced by a former deputy state minister. And that PBB vice-president and federal Agriculture minister Effendi Norwawi's seat in Dalat will go to another woman educationist.

Talk also has it that even Sharikah Mordiah, known to be closely associated with Johari, the second deputy president, may swap constituencies with Dr Abang Abdul Rauf in the Kuching area.

Malaysiakini was informed by those who attended the debate that Abdul Taib sensed the feelings and reaction of the delegates and observers and worked quickly to try and assuage their feelings. "Taib sensed what was going on and he moved in quickly to try and calm their feelings," noted an observer.

According to him, Abdul Taib frequently mentioned Abang Johari's name, indicating that his contributions to the party and government are recognised and that, in fact, he had an important role to play to make tourism a major contributor to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The conclusion of those who attended the meeting was that the Johari team had turned the convention around in their favour at the last minute, despite clear attempts in the beginning to shut some of them out.

"The reactions from the floor to the various speeches by the speakers are all very indicative," according to one delegate. "If party elections were held now, the result would be predictable. It looks like campaigning for next year's party elections."

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's correspondent based in Kuching, Sarawak