It looks like leaders and members of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) will have to wait a little longer for the outcome on the party's fate which is now in the hands of the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Registrar Dahari Ibrahim said today: "The PBDS reply submitted on November 4 is still under consideration."

And he would not want to be drawn too into what he described as speculation as to when he would announce his decision whether to accept or reject the party's reply to his query on the status of delegates from 29 out of 153 party branches that attended the party's triennial delegates conference in Santubong on July 26-27 this year.

The Dayak-based party whose president is Daniel Tajem, a former Sarawak deputy chief minister, could find itself in serious trouble, including the possibility of de-registration, if it failed to satisfy the ROS.

Tajem had said the party had replied to the best of its ability to try and satisfy the ROS in order to save the Dayak-based party, formed 20 years as an offshoot of the Sarawak National Party (Snap).

Tajem and his supporters were all returned unopposed to all party posts in the last TDC. His arch rival Dr James Masing his supporters were not nominated by even a single branch at that TDC.

However, the Masing faction held their own triennial delegates conference two days earlier in Bintulu, but this was later declared as not held in accordance with the party's constitution by the ROS.

A priority

Because of irreconciliable differences and the uncertain fate of PBDS, Masing supporters have applied to form a new party proposing to call it Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). Registration of the new party is, however, still pending.

This has made saving PBDS more of a priority for the Tajem group than any other, and Leo Moggie, the president emeritus, put in an appearance, his first since stepping down on June 25 to make way to Tajem, at the party's last weekend supreme council meeting to show his support for the new party leadership.

Masing, on the other hand, said he is not involved in the new party but has given his blessing to its formation, saying that he might consider joining it if it is necessary to do so. He is now away on holidays overseas.

Meanwhile, Moggie's political secretary Aaron Dagang said the ROS should be allowed to take his time to study the lengthy reply, supported by affidavits and other documents, from PBDS.

He is one of those tipped to be candidate should Moggie decides not to change his mind about not contesting in Kanowit, his parliamentary constituency.

Observers believe that it is highly unlikely the ROS' decision will be before Hari Raya as it is only four days away. It is expected soon after Raya or early December.