The big question ahead of tomorrow's PRS supreme council called by party president Dr James Masing is whether his deputy Sng Chee Hua and his son Larry will be present.

The bet is father and son are unlikely to attend after they have questioned the president's move in sacking secretary-general Sidi Munan and other principal office-bearers and replaced them with his (Masing's) own men in the supreme council.

When contacted, the senior Sng would not comment but close associates said it is certain that the Sngs would not attend as they will attend the supreme council meeting scheduled on June 14 that has been called earlier by Sidi to discuss, among other things, matters connected with the recent state elections.

The junior Sng, 27, was one of the six removed but soon after appointed by Masing as the new information chief to replace Wilfred Nissom, who was appointed secretary-general in place of Sidi, the party's founder president who gave way to Masing.

Larry is the re-elected state assemblyperson for Pelagus and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office.

Sources told malaysiakini that the newly-elected state assemblyperson for Balai Ringin Snowdan Lawan is likely to attend the June 11 meeting which will be held at the PRS new office manned by Masing supporters.

He and his businessman father Donald Lawan are known to be allies of the party's deputy president. The young Lawan's candidacy was recommended by Sng.

Sri Aman MP Jimmy Donald, said to be linked with the Sng group, is expected to stay away from the Masing meeting too.

Tedwin Ngumbang, the deputy information chief appointed by Masing, told malaysiakini that so far about 24 out of the 34 members of the supreme council will attend the Sunday meeting.

A Masing-Sidi fight?

The latest developments in PRS, the youngest component member of the state's ruling coalition, are the result of a serious falling out between Masing and his deputy, although the Masing camp attempted to publicise the president's recent moves as mainly directed at the secretary-general (Sidi) whom Masing had judged to be guilty of insubordination.

"In reality this is a Masing-Sng fight," said political observers. "The signs have been there since the party was formed 18 months ago, after Sng gained complete control of the supreme council.

Masing's move in sacking the six office-bearers, mostly loyal to Sng, was not totally a surprise. Sng had accused Masing of trying to sabotage Larry in Pelagas, and a report would be tabled at the June 14 meeting on this.

The June 14 SC meeting which will be held at PRS registered office in Green Heights Commercial Centre, near Kuching International Airport, will discuss, among other things, the holding of an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) or bringing forward the date of the party's first triennial delegates conference (TDC), as a means to resolve the party crisis.