The fight for the top posts in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has been turned into a political psywar.

The party's usually-confident deputy president and presidential aspirant Daniel Tajem has publicly stated that although he believes the contest for the top posts will be close, he says his rival Dr James Jemut Masing has the advantage.

"He (Masing) stands a better chance to win," Tajem was quoted as saying the Sarawak Tribune, a local English daily.

"We are facing an uphill battle but we will continue striving," he added.

Tajem was also quoted as saying that of the 176 branches that had conducted their annual general meetings "most are still being classified as yellow (50-50) while certain areas are confirmed red (controlled by the rival faction)."

The rest which is considered as safe for the Tajem-Salang faction is classified green.

Branches named

Tajem event named those areas over which Masing has an advantage Pelagus, Balleh, Kemena, Kidurong, Jepak, Tamin, Kakus, Katibas, Belaga, Senadin, Lambir, Piasau, Limbang
and Lawas.

"We may have o­ne or two branches in these areas but the number is relatively small," Tajem was quoted as saying, adding that he had no idea whether branches within the other faction's territory had already held their meetings.

Tajem, whose running mate for deputy president is the party's treasurer-general and Julau member of parliament Joseph Salang, said his group would however continue to work hard to get the silent majority to their side.

He said his faction would continue to supervise the annual general meetings of branches to ensure the proceedings were conducted according to party constitution.

"We want the meetings to be conducted properly because any illegality will be a ground for complaint to the Registrar of Societies which can lead to the party deregistration," he added.

Two weeks ago, after Tajem told reporters he did not think the party's triennial delegates conference (TDC) would be held earlier than the end of the year and that it might even be held early next year, it was announced after the party's supreme council meeting soon afterwards that the TDC would be held in the first week of August.

Surprises

This announcement had taken the Masing-Sng faction aback as they had anticipated their rivals would seek to delay the party elections in order to garner more support o­n the ground and plan for other strategies.

Masing, who is social development and urbanisation minister, is running for the top post with the hope of succeeding Leo Moggie, the incumbent president who has declined re-nomination, with Sng Chee Hua as his running mate for deputy president.

Although a last-minute compromise has been ruled out, there has been new talk that the elections could produce some surprises.

Most PBDS members o­n the ground throughout Sarawak are well aware of what's happening within the party, especially the tussle for the top posts between the two factions.

Most of them see both Tajem and Masing as qualified, experienced and capable leaders, and that when it comes to actually casting their votes many could face a real dilemma in deciding.

"In a way Tajem is not wrong in saying that he sees the contest as likely to be very close between him and Masing," according to o­ne seasoned political observer.

After all branches have submitted their annual returns to the party headquarters o­n or before May 15 and this month's supreme council meeting makes a decision o­n the date of the party elections, the motion will be set for nominations of candidates for the elections.

The fight for the deputy president's post will also be keenly watched. Sng, who is o­ne of the party's five vice presidents and a former member of parliament and state assemblyperson, is determined to win, and against him is Salang, an Iban millionaire businessman politician, who also has strong backing from many party members.

"One of the issues that has cropped up is whether it is important who the No 2 will be in the event the No 1 has to step down eventually for o­ne reason or another," the same source said.

Sng has gone public to say that based o­n his record that although a Chinese he has contributed a lot to the Dayak-based party and to the community since he joined the party.