De-registration of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has not shaken the faith of five elected representatives aligned to the Daniel Tajem faction. They will stick with the party pending the outcome of an appeal against the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Deputy president Joseph Salang Gandum, who is MP for Julau, said switching allegiance to other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties or even looking for temporary 'parking' in them, would be tantamount to "abandoning" PBDS.

The party was de-registered last Friday after it failed to respond adequately to a show-cause letter from the ROS over a protracted leadership tussle.

"Let us exhaust all legal avenues first. Our priority is not to save ourselves as individuals, but to save the party," Salang said.

"Besides, is there a provision under party constitutions to temporarily park (elected representatives) in such a situation?"

He also said the elected representatives in the Tajem faction - including former party president Leo Moggie, the MP for Kanowit (photo) - have yet to meet to discuss the situation. They comprise five MPs and two state assemblypersons.

Leo, also the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister, is currently in Geneva, attending a conference.

The other nine PBDS elected representatives - three MPs and six state assemblypersons aligned to the rival faction led by Dr James Masing - have said they will secure places temporarily in BN component parties until their predicament is resolved.

Apology to Pak Lah

Last Sunday, the Sarawak BN supreme council had offered temporary membership to all 14 PBDS elected representatives, within coalition partners Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu, Sarawak United People's Party or Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

Sarawak BN chairperson and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said any PBDS elected representative not prepared to seek shelter in another party could "stand under the sun".

To this, Salang remarked: "We have been standing under the sun for a long time and have gotten scorched. We can get further scorched."

Meanwhile, the PBDS is preparing its appeal letter to Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reinstate the party.

Abdullah said last weekend that he was waiting for the appeal letter, which Salang told malaysiakini would be submitted soon.

Salang said he had told Abdullah at an informal meeting that he was sorry the party was in trouble and that he hoped the appeal would be given consideration.

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