Parti Pesaka Bumiputera's (PBB) Demak Laut division has bowed to the wishes of the leadership over the division's disputed Youth election results and agreed to a conditional recognition of the elected committee.

In last month's election, businessman Wan Hamzah Wan Paiee won narrowly over Kuching City South councillor Jolly Merican but the latter immediately objected.

Merican and his supporters petitioned to the party headquarters on the grounds that the election was not valid as representatives from two unregistered branches were allowed by meeting co-ordinator Karim Hamzah to vote.

Wan Hamzah is said to be a supporter of the ambitious Karim who is reportedly eyeing a supreme council post in the forthcoming party election in mid-September.

The two branches - Pingan Jaya and Taman Sepaket Jaya - at the material time had already formed their pro tem committees and were in the process of being registered with the Registrar of Societies.

They are among 18 Youth branches that delegates to the June 5 election meeting co-ordinated by Karim, who is also the PBB state Youth chief and Assajaya assemblyperson.

Demak Laut division head Dr Abang Rauf Abang Zen had earlier insisted that he had only agreed that the representatives from the two branches could attend the meeting but not vote.

But this decision was later overruled.

Fresh polls unnecessary

Abang Rauf told malaysiakini today that his division had decided to recognise the Youth committee elected on June 5 "out of deference for the wishes of the chief minister and PBB president Abdul Taib Mahmud who wants a smooth election process to keep the party intact".

"We did not want to be seen as in confrontation with the state Youth exco, in the interest of the party," he added.

Merican had complained to party secretary-general Ambrose Blikau who in turn referred the matter to state Youth chief Douglas Uggah who together with his deputy Karim told Abang Rauf that a fresh election was unnecessary.

But all was not lost for Merican, who in a compromise deal was appointed on Sunday as assistant secretary in the division along with one of his supporters Haji Paruwadi Musa as assistant treasurer.

As part of the conditional recognition the Demak Laut Youth were not allowed to vote at yesterday's divisional meeting chaired by Abang Rauf 'as it might invalidate the results of the elections.'

Abang Rauf, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the overall elections, said the division is within a PBB elected representative's state constituency and thus will be entitled to send 15 delegates to the party convention.

Divisions from non-PBB areas can send only 10, based on 2002 amendments to the party constitution.

A further bonus for Abang Rauf, is that his preferred candidate for the division's deputy post Dr Hazland Hipni was returned unopposed after two would-be challengers withdrew from the race.

Abang Rauf who is largely seen as a strong supporter of PBB deputy president and state housing minister Abang Johari Tun Openg

Tanjung Duta crisis

Meanwhile, Taib has also indicated there is unlikely to be fresh elections in the Tanjung Datu division despite a large number of representatives from the majority of branches sending a petition to the party headquarters expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the elections had been conducted.

They were upset that PBB Temaga branch member Johny Wahi had not been able to contest for the top post.

It is learnt that Wahi, a former government servant, did not hold any delegate or observer status and as such was not eligible to contest any post, according to the party constitution.

Hossen Busri, the incumbent head, was returned unopposed.

Johny and his supporters are expected to pursue the matter and might even lodge a complaint with the ROS.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.