The intrigue in the factional squabble within Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) deepened today when two boxes containing office files went missing from its headquarters.

Deputy president Daniel Tajem told malaysiakini that he found this out when he called for certain files containing information o­n party matters that took place last year.

No details

"I was told by the staff at our party headquarters that two boxes of the files were gone," he said.

Tajem did not go into detail except to say that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and if there was sufficient evidence of foul play, a police report would be lodged.

He gave no indication as to when the files may have gone astray or their content.

Tajem, a presidential aspirant and chairman of the political affairs bureau, said 243 party branches have been verified as branches duly registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

With the deadline for submission of reports and annual reports o­nly 10 days away, he said most branches had already held their annual general meetings.

Nearly 200 of the 268 branches have met under the supervision of the party headquarters, leaving the rest to hold theirs at their own initiative, he added.

However, Tajem did not expect all registered branches to submit their reports and annual returns by the May 15 deadline.

"Some will not," he said, without elaborating further.

Rival 'losing steam'

Supporters of the two rival factions have been busy campaigning o­n the ground over the last few months to garner support for their candidates for the two top posts in the party.
A confident Tajem said: "I see the tide going against them."

His running mate for deputy president is the party treasurer-general and Julau member of parliament Joseph Salang Gandum.

Only three days ago, however, Tajem had been quoted by a local English tabloid as saying that his main rival, Dr James Masing - the party's information chief and state social development and urbanisation minister - held the advantage.

Masing's running-mate is Sng Chee Hua, o­ne of the party's five vice-presidents. (photo)

Meanwhile, PBDS supreme council member Sidi Munan, who is aligned to the Masing-Sng faction, told malaysiakini that his group was no longer pursuing the return of the seven boxes containing branch reports and annual reports which had been submitted to the party headquarters.

He said the ROS would not raise any objection if the same reports and annual reports from the 177 branches were resubmitted, even though the 60-day period has expired.

"We will submit the reports and annual returns o­n May 15 to party headquarters," he said.

PBDS supreme council will meet in Kuching o­n May 25 to fix a date and place for the party's triennial delegates conference. o­nce this is done, the date for nomination of candidates will be decided.

According to the party constitution, a member wishing to stand for the president's post should have the support of no less than 30 per cent of party's branches. A member wishing to contest the deputy president's post should have the support of at least 25 per cent of branches.