Beleaguered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) presidential aspirant Dr James Masing has made a last-minute proposal to prevent a postponement of the crucial party elections scheduled next weekend.

His proposal: Let all delegates come together and nominate and elect a new set of party leaders on the spot.

He made the proposal amid growing doubts that the party elections will be held as scheduled on Oct 9-10, fixed by a Barisan Nasional technical committee.

Masing, whose faction is up against the party president Daniel Tajem-led group, said normal procedures for nominating candidates were much too cumbersome and time-consuming.

But certain issues need to be resolved by the BN technical committee before the party elections could be held.

These include the reservations that have been put in writing by the rival faction led by Tajem about a proposal to use the same delegates list as the previous triennial delegates conference in 2000.

A political issue

They say that list is tainted as it includes 25 un-registered branches which they want removed and to include 29 registered branches that were shut out from the previous TDC as well as another 35 branches registered after that date.

The irony, according to political observers, is that Tajem defeated Masing for the party's No 2 post (the then president Leo Moggie was returned unopposed) with the help of the delegates in 2000.

Tajem supporters now say they want a proper TDC held, legally and constitutionally, but Masing says it is no longer a legal or constitutional issue but a political one which is best resolved by a simple gathering of the same delegates minus those who have died or left the party to decide on the spot who they want as leaders.

It is clear that the Masing faction has accepted the 2000 list in toto without suggesting any amendment.

Both factions have gone on the hustings, garnering support among some 600 delegates from 206 branches throughout the state. And both are confident of winning.

Masing, who is also state Land Development Minister, told malaysiakini today that if his proposal for a simplified approach is adopted for the election of new set of party leaders all he would need is three days to bring the delegates for the meeting in either Kuching or Sibu.

Eager for contest

Tajem, when contacted for his comment on Masing's proposal, asked: "Is it within the constitution? If it is an infringement of the party constitution I cannot be a part of it, as I've said before."

"If it (such a procedure) is not (an infringement), then I'm all for it."

Political observers say both factions are eager for a contest, except that they differ in approach, with the Tajem faction seen as a stickler to established rules and the Masing faction prepared to look away from it and get on the business of adopting a simple procedure for electing party leaders.

The final say on whether there is to be a last-minute compromise deal to avoid the possibility of being de-registered again or whether the proposal as Masing has suggested can be accepted would seem to depend on the authorities, including the Registrar of Societies, the Attorney-General's Office and even Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Tajem faction has preferred party elections put off to another date to ensure that it is constitutionally held.