The 'open warfare' in crisis-ridden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is continuing unabated.

The latest move showed the deputy president Sng Chee Hua-led faction going to the ground to garner support for their forthcoming extra-ordinary delegates conference (EDC) in August to elect a new party leader.

The first volley was fired from Balai Ringin in Sri Aman during an Iban gathering over the weekend called ngiling tikai to mark the end of Gawai Dayak (Dayak harvest festival).

It was attended by about 250 people, including the newly-elected state assemblyperson for Balai Ringin Snowdan Lawan, district councillors from Serian and representatives of various political parties.

PRS vice-president and the Sri Aman MP Jimmy Donald and Snowdan both spoke of the rural Iban's affinity for the Barisan Nasional and there was no question of them abandoning the BN under any circumstances.

Jimmy, a known Sng close ally, also touched on the present political environment in PRS.

Favour of EDC

"The audience have accepted his explanation on why they have to hold the EDC to elect a new president to replace the censured president and state minister Dr James Masing," a spokesperson for the Sng faction told malaysiakini today.

"The people are in favour of the EDC because they want to see an end to the crisis in the party," he claimed.

PRS, formed 19 months ago after PBDS was de-registered following a prologned leadership crisis, is going through a similar crisis. Masing claims to have the support of the majority of the party's 11 elected representatives and a majority of the party's 34 branches.

Yesterday, the Sng faction invited vice-president and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Entulu to stand as president, saying this is the best way to resolve the leadership tussle, but making clear that Masing cannot stand as he has been censured because of alleged anti-Barisan Nasional activities during the recent state election.