Najib Tun Razak's warning that disciplinary action will be taken against any Barisan Nasional (BN) member standing as independent or working against the BN in the coming Sarawak election did not go down well with a senior leader of the now defunct PBDS.

"That is double standard," declared the Iban leader who asked not to be identified. He queried why no action was taken against several state BN leaders for openly campaigning and supporting independent candidates in Lubok Antu and Kanowit during the 2004 parliamentary election despite of proofs being furnished to the BN leadership.

Furthermore, he said, the Independent candidate who stood against the BN-PBDS incumbent Jewah Gerang (left) in Lubok Antu was even appointed to a government position after he lost in the elections.

Najib who is also deputy prime minister said this week that BN members who sabotaged the BN in the Sarawak election would face disciplinary action.

Action will also be taken against BN members who chose to contest as independents, support or become an opposition candidate and campaign for opposition parties, he added.

Earlier this year, Lubok Antu MP Jewah Gerang accused certain state leaders of openly campaigning against him. He claimed that up to this dat, even minor rural development projects in his area were being withheld on the instruction from a senior Iban state minister (whom he named).

After the last parliamentary election, PBDS formally submitted reports of sabotage attempts against two BN candidates, including Jewah, by certain state component party leaders.

Photographs and statements were provided, but no action was taken, according to the former PBDS senior leader.

Senior and junior Sng

Najib's latest comments are believed to have been made following reports made by certain component party leaders of attempts to undermine the chances of some BN candidates because of some internal party problems.

It is common knowledge that the internal problems with the state ruling coalition's youngest member Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) are so serious that there were claims and counter-claims of sabotage attempts against their own party candidates.

One area mentioned is Pelagus where Larry Sng, a state assistant minister and 24-year-old of PRS deputy president Sng Chee Hua, is defending his seat. There appears to be a concerted effort in the name of promoting Iban interests to unseat the younger Sng and it is said to involve elements in PRS as well.

The differences between PRS president and State Development Minister Dr James Masing and his deputy are public knowledge, following revelation that the party now operates with two different headquarters in Kuching.

The other seats where the split within PRS has become so evident are Ngemah and Belaga.

Masing and Sng, who is also the party's selection committee chairperson, have been proposing different candidates for the two seats.

Masing wants a forestry office Alexander Vincent as candidate for Ngemah while Sng prefers an educationist Warren Aris, and in Belaga, a Orang Ulu constituency, Masing's problem is not only with Sng but with one of his own men the MP for Ulu Rajang Billy Abit who prefers the incumbent Stanley Ajang.

Masing has his own candidate but Ajang, formerly of PBDS and later joined SPDP, also has the support of Sng. But the chief minister and state BN leader Abdul Taib Mahmud is said to favour a different candidate.

Orang Ulu (Kayan) chiefs have also endorsed Ajang in the presence of Billy Abit at a recent gathering in Sungai Asap, Belaga.

Problems within Supp, PBB

Other component parties are also not spared similar problems.

In Meradong, Supp president Dr George Chan and some of his supporters are said to favour a woman candidate Wong Hie Hing to replace incumbent TIng Chek Sii, and this has led to the resignation of a central working committee member and senior branch leader Frederick Wong, one time political secretary to former federal minister Law Hieng Ding.

Wong has said he will contest as an Independent.

Even Taib's PBB has its own problems. Reports say t-shirts are being printed with the words 'Pulang ke Bintulu' (Go home to Bintulu) aimed at state legislative assembly speaker and the incumbent for Serdeng Awang Asia Awang Nasar, who is expected to contest the new seat of Semog.

The troubles started when Asfia was asked by the party supreme council to set up nine new branches in the area and the MP for Kuala Rajang and Matu-Daro state assemblyperson Wahab Dolah was not consulted and his supporters not invited.

Police reports were even lodged several months ago against the election process for the new branches.

A Wahab Dolah supporter said: "Someone disturbed a sleeping tiger."

In a statement denying that he had neglected his area which according to a TV3 report lacked progress and development, Asfia said: "Let sleeping dogs lie."

Taib will be releasing the much-awaited list of BN candidates tomorrow. He said recently 20 percent will be new faces and there will be more woman candidates.

Political observers are also early awaiting the announcement as it will indicate the future team that will lead Sarawak in a post-Taib era.