Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu's (PBB) Tarat division has made an indirect call to its supreme council to reconsider its ruling against contests for all top posts except that of president.

At the division's meeting in Sarawak yesterday, delegates adopted a resolution calling for only the president's post to go uncontested. This is currently held by veteran politician Abdul Taib Mahmud (photo), who is also the Sarawak chief minister.

PBB senior vice-president Adenan Satem officiated at the meeting immediately upon returning from Kuala Lumpur, even skipping a meeting for the state's elected representatives.

Tarat division head Roland Sagah, the political secretary to the chief minister, is known to be a staunch supporter of Adenan..

Sagah told reporters that he had asked Adenan earlier whether he should postpone the divisional meeting, but that he was told it should be held as scheduled.

Approached for comment on the resolution, Adenan said it was the division's prerogative. He reiterated that, by consensus, there would be no contest for top posts except "under exceptional circumstances".

'Taib's idea'

According to political analysts, this means the division wants the other posts to be contested "in a test of democracy" at the party convention in September.

A supreme council member, who asked not to be identified, said the resolution indicates that the Tarat division is clearly against the consensus reached by party leaders.

Taib had asked deputy president Abang Johari Openg to announce the decision, presumably to clear doubts after both Adenan and Alfred Jabu, the other deputy president, remained quiet.

The source said it was Taib who had told the council that contests should be avoided "for the sake of party unity and in view of the forthcoming state elections'".

"Taib looked directly at Adenan and told him, 'No contest, no fight'," said the source.

It is an open secret that the decision did not go down well with Adenan (photo), who was confident of winning the deputy president's post with the support of several key leaders.

However, allowing a free-for-all could risk a split that could cause more acrimony than in the 1998 party polls, when Johari and Adenan stood against incumbent Abang Abu Bakar for the deputy president's post.

Adenan is said to be raring for revenge at the hands of Johari (photo)whom he sees as an obstacle to his ambition of becoming president and eventually succeeding Taib as chief minister.

Whether the Tarat divison's resolution will trigger similar resolutions from other divisions remains to be seen.

"(But) the divisions will not want to show insolence towards the leadership, especially if Taib really wants to avoid a contest," said an analyst.

'Melanau dynasty'

However, talk persists that Effendi Norwawi, although no longer an elected representative, is still in the running for the chief minister's post.

"Effendi (a PBB vice-president) did a lot for Taib while in the state. You don't forget that kind of a man easily. Besides, he is still young, dynamic and extremely capable," noted one observer.

Like Taib, Effendi (photo) is a Melanau. The perpetuation of a Melanau political dynasty, which began in 1970 under Chief Minister Abdul Rahman Yaacob, is an important consideration in Taib's succession plan.

"Johari and Adenan do not seem to fit into that plan," said the observer.

Most analysts agree that Taib would not risk a serious split in PBB, as this could undermine the party's chances in the next state polls, widely expected to be held by year's end.

"Therefore, it makes a lot of sense that Taib wants a smooth transition, as this would be in his interest," said the observer.

The question being asked within party circles is whether Adenan and his supporters will go contest the top posts regardless of the consensus, except for the president's post.

"Yes, he could. All you need is one division to nominate you for any post. The constitution does not impose a minimum number of divisions for nomination to various key posts," said a senior party member.

"But it will be messy for the party this time, more than you could possible imagine. I don't think Taib will risk that."