Despite facing possible de-registration by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), Parti Rakyat Sarawak president Dr James Masing's faction announced that the triennial delegates conference (TDC) would be held on December 2.

The announcement was made by PRS vice-president Joseph Entulu Beluan, in his capacity as the TDC organising chairperson. Another vice-president Dublin Unting would be appointed election chairperson.

Wilfred Nissom would be made credentials committee chairperson. Nissom was made secretary-general after Masing sacked Sidi Munan as secretary-general in May, along with five other office bearers.

Entulu said notices had been sent to all 28 registered divisions, asking them to hold their annual general meetings. Each division would only be required to send five delegates to the TDC.

Ticket to de-registration

In an immediate response, the rival faction led by Masing's estranged deputy Sng Chee Hua said the move by the former would eventually lead to the 'destruction' of the party.

"If they were to pursue their plan to hold the TDC it could be regarded as a deliberate and blatant act to get the party de-registered," he said in a joint statement with Sri Aman Parliamentarian Jimmy Donald.

The statement said the party should rightfully wait for the ROS' response to the recent reply by the party.

The ROS show-cause letter demanded to know why the crisis-stricken party should not be de-registered as it was found that the sacking of Sng and the five others was against the party's constitution.

"Masing and his group should not make another pre-emptive strike. The least they can do now is to show a little respect to the ROS," they added.

The ROS' response to the party's reply to the show-cause letter is expected on October 7.

They added that the decision to hold the TDC was illegal because notice for the supreme council where the decision was made was not signed by Sidi, which the ROS still recognises as the party's secretary-general.