Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president Daniel Tajem today confirmed that the party received a second letter from the Home Ministry but refused to divulge its content.

The 'confidential' letter bearing the signature of the ministry's deputy secretary-general and addressed to PBDS secretary general Stanley Ajang has been the subject of much speculation in local newspapers.

The letter, dated April 30, was in reply to a query from rival faction leader Dr James Masing regarding the status and powers of the supreme council with Tajem as president.

A copy of the letter has been forwarded to Masing.

Malaysiakini learnt the letter stated that the supreme council shall now function only to organise the fresh party elections as ordered by the ministry in its earlier letter.

According to a party leader, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) is aware of the detailed plans of the party to hold the elections which must follow the rules and regulations stipulated in the party constitution.

He said this included the time-table to cover branch meetings culminating in the Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC), all of which will take about seven months.

No urgency

However, Masing has reportedly said the elections must be held within four months from April as this was the decision made at a meeting between PBDS, ROS, the Home Ministry and Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile, Tajem told malaysiakini that the two letters from the ministry did not mention when the TDC should be held.

"He (Masing) is entitled to his opinion," he said, adding that he saw no urgency in calling a meeting specifically to discuss the contents of the letter before the supreme council meets on May 29.

"We are holding consultations among ourselves, for the time being," he said.

The first letter, dated March 9, conveyed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's decision to reinstate PBDS after it was de-registered last December due to the protracted leadership crisis.

The letter also ordered the party to hold a fresh election and stated that the supreme council prior to July 23, 2003 - when the TDC in Santubong was held - with Tajem as president will remain until the new elections.

Meanwhile, Tajem and Ajang have been invited to the Barisan Nasional technical committee in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, May 13, which is expected to be chaired by BN secretary-general Khalil Yaacob. The meeting is expected to discuss PBDS' forthcoming party elections.