Daniel Tajem's faction, which is holding its own road-shows, suffered a minor setback when approval to hold a Wanita branch function tomorrow in the Sri Aman Dewan Suarah was withdrawn upon the directive of higher authorities.

Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president emeritus Leo Moggie, Tajem and Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Salang were scheduled to speak at the function. It was organised by the Pantu branch, headed by PBDS Wanita chief Agnes Lia.

Tajem said he was told by party leader Anthony Belon, who is also Lia's husband, that the approval was withdrawn two days ago.

Dewan Suarah manager Alban Sanggat confirmed this. He said the decision followed a state government directive that priority be given to government-organised activities connected with the Merdeka celebrations.

This was one of the conditions attached when approval was given in the first place, he added.

According to Tajem, they now plan to hold the function in a restaurant in Sri Aman. "Belon is trying to obtain a police permit today," he said.

Tajem's rivals - the James Masing faction - will hold their own function in Sri Aman on Sept 5, which will be attended by Masing and other leaders.

Not deterred

This is not the first time that approval for a Tajem faction function at a Dewan Suarah has been cancelled at the last minute.

Sometime last year, permission for a planned gathering at the Sibu Dewan Suarah was also withdrawn.

However, Tajem said the party was not in any way deterred by the latest development.

The road shows by both factions are to garner support from delegates ahead of the PBDS triennial delegates conference scheduled for Oct 9-10.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership has ordered for fresh elections in order to resolve the protracted leadership struggle in PBDS.

Both factions are now trying to tell their sides of the story and win the delegates over.

Meanwhile, the PBDS supreme council will meet on Saturday to discuss the latest developments and prepare the party for the polls.

However, it cannot do much as it has to wait for BN technical committee chairperson Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to call for a meeting of the party's credentials committee, which he heads, to make the necessary preparations.


TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.