The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) faction led by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office Larry Sng Wei Shien has formed a three-man election committee to study potential candidates for six parliamentary seats to be allocated to the party.

The committee, led by Sng, who at 28 is the youngest Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leader, also comprises his deputy Jimmy Donald, the Sri Aman member of Parliament, and Sidi Munan, the party secretary-general.

The allocation of the six seats to PRS is virtue of it being the off-shoot of the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).

Status of the party

Sng, who led a PRS entourage on a Gawai Dayak visit to his deputy's house in Kuching yesterday, told reporters that the six parliamentary seats are Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Julau, Selangau, Hulu Rajang and Kanowit.

He said apart from what he and his deputy described as the "electability" factor, another important criteria for deciding on the candidacy is that he or she should be able to work with the party and BN leadership.

The Sng faction hoped the Registrar of Societies would make a decision soon on the status of the party.

"Meantime, we are just waiting. It can be anytime," he said in response to a question.

He said as soon as the decision is known, the party must move to stabilise support on the ground.

He added that once the status of the party is known, it could also move towards finding a compromise among the rival factions or any other solutions to the present problems.

The leader of the other faction Dr James Masing, who is a senior state minister, is presently away in Australia on official duties.

Sng is the son of the party's former acting president Sng Chee Hua, who has been appointed as chief advisor.