Thirty two divisions of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) last night pledged their support to party president Dr James Masing as rival factions show no sign of any willingness to compromise in the leadership crisis.

Masing-appointed party deputy information chief Tedwin Ngumbang told malaysiakini by phone from Bintulu today where a gathering was held last night that the divisions were represented mostly by their chairpersons and the rest by their deputies as well as other principal office-bearers.

Also present were representatives from 12 pro tem committees of other divisions, he added.

Ngumbang said at the closed-door meeting last night, Masing explained to some 400 people present about his recent action in sacking several office bearers of the party.

However, the state Land Development Minister was tight-lipped when asked by reporters later on the sacking. He is believed to have been advised by lawyers to refrain from making any public comment on the matter.

Three YBs absent

Those who also spoke at the gathering were PRS vice-president and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Entulu, Masing-appointed deputy secretary-general Henry Luhat Opang, PRS deputy youth chief Azizi Morni and Tedwin.

Three of the party's 11 elected representatives were not present - Sri Aman MP Jimmy Donald, Pelagus state assemblyperson and state assistant minister Larry Sng and newly-elected state assemblyperson for Balai Ringin Snowdan Lawan.

Gumbang said Larry is away overseas and Snowdan had a prior engagement.

According to political observers, Masing's latest move is in anticipation of the extraordinary delegates conference which the rival faction led b deputy president Sng Chee Hua will hold next month to elect a new president to replace Masing.

His rivals' move is not only likely to embarrass him in the eyes of his party members and colleagues in the Barisan Nasional but may also lead to cutting him off from the party, especially if the ROS were to rule he (Masing) was wrong in sacking the party's principal office bearers.

The Sng faction is said to be planning even to go to court to obtain an order to prevent him from doing anything in the name of the party.