Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) women's wing leader Agnes Lia has switched her support for the crisis-ridden party's new leadership.

In a statement, she paid tribute to the recently resigned president Leo Moggie, whom she commended for having "done an excellent job as president during the last 20 years."

"His decision to resign as president suddenly was made not without careful thought of saving the party from more indiscipline and further disintegration," she added.

Credentials committee

On the credentials committee with its newly-reconstituted membership under veteran leader Dr Jawie Masing as chairperson, she said it was "a respectful body created and endorsed by the supreme council to look into the credentials and eligibility of branches to attend the TDC."

"The women's section shall abide by the decisions and rulings made by the committee," added Lia, who by virtue of her post becomes one of the party's vice-presidents as well.

PBDS information chief Paul Kadang told malaysiakini that Lia might have given the impression in the past three years that she was supporting the rival faction headed by James Masing (photo).

"What she has done through the statement issued through the party has clarified her and her movement's stand. She supports the leadership of the party," he said

Avoid embarrassment

Meanwhile, PBDS secretary-general Stanley Ajang reminded members not to 'drag' Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud into the party's internal problems.

"The members are advised to always respect the chief minister's neutrality on any matters involving the component party of Barisan Nasional," he said in a press statement.

He said any attempts to implicate the chief minister in the matter should be avoided in order to save him and other BN leaders any potential embarrassment.

"Let us all solve our problems within the party, and be assured that we are all actively looking for
an amicable and effective solution to those problems.

"Our sincerity in achieving a united PBDS should not be questioned as we will take drastic and selfless steps as illustrated by our former president Leo Moggie, whose decision has been acknowledged by both Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as one of the ways to resolve the party's problems."

Ajang said the termination of appointments of party members who are elected representatives or
state or federal ministers should not be used as an excuse to feel marginalised.

"They can still attend the supreme council meeting by virtue of them being elected representatives," he noted, adding that the only different was "they do not have any voting rights but they can still express their opinions freely."