The differences over the choice of candidates for the coming state election among top leaders of the one-year-old Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) appeared to have caused a split among party ranks.

Party leaders appeared to be heading for a showdown when the party's supreme council meets next month to discuss its selection committee's recommendations on candidates.

A serious crack has clearly appeared over this and possibly other issues too between one group headed by party president Dr James Masing, who is also state land development minister and another led by his deputy Sng Chee Hua.

The differences have been made public by statements from both leaders. Sng issued one yesterday to say that the five-member selection committee which he heads has recommended that Snowdan Lawan, son of Iban veteran politician and businessman Donald Lawan be the party's candidate for the newly-created seat of Balai Ringin in Sri Aman.

"This is like jumping the gun and there is no guarantee the party's supreme council meeting after the Chinese New Year will endorse it straight away," a party member told malaysiakini on condition of anynimity.

According to a member of the selection committee who asked not to be identified, the voting at the meeting yesterday was 3:2 in favour of Snowdan. Those in favour included Sng, Sri Aman MP Jimmy Donald and PRS secretary-general Sidi Munan.

The member, one of the two who voted against, said he had already informed Masing of the outcome. The minister is on official duties in Kapit.

Open secret

In his statement, Sng said his committee had also re-nominated Masing as candidate for Balleh, his son and state assistant minister Larry as candidate for Pelagus and PRS vice president and state assistant minister Dublin Unting as candidate for Batang Ai.

It is an open secret that there are serious differences of opinion on the choice of candidates for most if not all the remaining seats.

A Masing supporter told m alaysiakini that although the selection committee has picked Snowdan "it must also get the endorsement of the party's supreme council and finally the approval of the Barisan Nasional leadership."

He said the Masing group has approached an Iban professional woman who works in a state government agency to be the candidate for Balai Ringin. She is from the area itself and known to many people there whereas Snowdan is not a local.

But Snowdan heads the PRS Balai Ringin branch and most if not all its members support him as candidate. Recently, a Masing ally - the beleaguered state assemblyperson for Bukit Begunan Mong Dagang - visited the area without informing the branch committee, infuriating them and asking him to stay out of the area.

He is reported to be paving the way for Lantak to be accepted as candidate by the locals for the Balai Ringin seat.