Serious differences have emerged among the top leaders of the newly-formed Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) - which is part of the ruling BN coalition - over the choice of candidates for certain seats in the forthcoming state elections.

Bukit Begunan assemblyperson Mong Dagang, who is the PRS Youth chief, has openly accused a group in the party of going around his constituency to collect signatures from headmen to stop him from defending his seat.

The group is said to be linked to deputy president Sng Chee Hua, who reportedly wants Iban businessman Donald Lawan to replace Mong, who is a known supporter of president Dr James Masing ( right ).

A local daily The Borneo Post yesterday reported Mong as saying that the group has been misleading village headmen and grassroots leaders into signing petitions against him.

Masing himself has publicly stated that he wants Mong to defend his seat.

Mong went to the newly-created Balai Ringin constituency, adjacent to Bukit Begunan, over the weekend and met 100 headmen and grassroots leaders at a gathering at Kampung Ensebang Burak.

This was done without the knowledge of PRS Balai Ringin division secretary Abah Ugi and several members who were resentful of his presence.

The division is headed by Lawan's son Snowdon, who wants to contest Balai Ringin, and who has been seen frequently around the constituency in the company of his father.

It was learnt today that Masing and his group had approached an Iban professional, Lantak Amin, 45, who is employed in a state agency. A party supporter said she has agreed to contest as she is entitled to apply for optional retirement if the BN needs her.

Balai Ringin is a predominantly Iban-based constituency and has recently been in the news because of native customary rights land issues. Many landowners in Apin, Pantu, are against logging and plantation activities.

It is an area where the Dayak opposition parties are said to have a good chance of winning.

"We're watching the developments in PRS very closely and with great interest," Malaysian Dayak Congress pro-tem information chief Joseph Tawie told malaysiakini today.

Open disagreement

The rival groups in PRS have apparently disagreed over the choice of candidates in two other state constituencies - Tamin and Kakus.

Tamin incumbent Joseph Entulu is supposed to make way to Joseph Mauh, a party stalwart, but the Sng group is said to favour an Iban businessman who is willing to make a substantial contribution to the party's election war chest.

The same group is said to be trying to get Kakus incumbent John Sikie replaced by retired senior government officer Hillary Mukit.

Masing is on record as saying that he is in favour of both Mauh, a former member of Parliament, and Sikie being retained.

However, it will be the party supreme council that will approve all recommendations. With two-thirds of the 30 members aligned to the Sng group, Masing can expect a headache.

PRS modeled its constitution along the same lines as the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). Its de-registration two years ago led to the formation of PRS.

The party has been engaged in a public dispute with state BN partner Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) over the seats of Belaga and Ngemah. These are held by former PBDS leaders Stanley Ajang and Gabriel Adit who have since joined SPDP.

Masing insists the two seats should go to PRS to increase its tally to nine. He claimed the BN supreme council had decided on this.

Ajang and Adit said over the weekend they would like the state BN supreme council to review the decision, if indeed it has been made.