A decision is expected by Friday on the leadership crisis that has torn apart the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) over the past year.

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) is expected to reveal its decision on which triennial delegates conference (TDC) was conducted according to the party constitution.

One was in held in Sibu last December and the other in Kuching on March 30 this year, by rival factions aligned respectively to 'sacked' president Dr James Masing and his arch-rival Sng Chee Hua.

Each submitted its report, including the list of elected office-bearers, immediately after its event.

Four ROS officials, including two from the headquarters in Putrajaya, and state chief James Ho met separately with the two factions last week in Kuching to seek clarifications on certain points.

The ROS had earlier written to the party asking for "the true list of office-bearers".

Contacted today, a spokesman for the Sng faction confirmed that ROS officials had met them for nearly two hours last week at the registered party headquarters in Green Heights, near the Kuching International Airport.

Among those present was Larry Sng, 28, elected the new president at the March 30 TDC. His father Chee Hua was appointed special adviser.

"Basically, the ROS officials wanted to find out who had conducted the TDC and whether this was in accordance with the constitution," the spokesman said.

Suggestion made

A spokesman for the Masing faction also confirmed meeting ROS officials at their party office in Pending Road.

"My understanding is that the ROS wanted to know on what authority we had organised the TDC in Sibu," he said.

All the elected representatives aligned to the Masing group were present.

Informed sources said the meeting with the Masing faction had been "a little rough", with one member even suggesting that - if the ROS could not decide - it would be better for the party to be de-registered.

The Sng faction, however, is confident the ROS will not axe the party.

Chief Minister and state Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud ( photo ) recently announced that he would not intervene and would leave it to the authorities to determine the status of PRS.