Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dr James Masing has warned a state BN component party to lay its hands off the predominantly Iban Batang Ai state seat, which he says belongs to his party.

Although he did not name the party, Masing, who is state land development minister, is widely believed to be referring to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

james jemut masing Masing ( left ) was quoted by The Borneo Post in a front page report today as claiming that members of that component party were expressing interest in the seat, currently held by PRS vice-president and state assistant minister Dublin Unting, a Masing ally.

Unting is still in a coma at the Normah Medical Centre after suffering a severe stroke earlier this year. He has yet to show any signs of recovery, prompting state assembly speaker Awang Asfia Awang Nassar to grant him a leave of absence on medical grounds.

An angry Masing said he has received numerous complaints from party members that PBB men were already actively pushing for a senior government officer to replace Unting.

Masing was also quoted as saying that it was normal for Parti Keadilan Rakyat to eye the seat as it was an opposition party. But for another BN component party to do likewise knowing the seat belonged to PRS is "most unfortunate".

Masing's PRS has been a disgruntled coalition partner since its recommendation for the Lubok Antu constituency, Desmond Ateng, was ignored as a candidate in the March general election by the top BN leadership in the state. PBB deputy president Alfred Jabu's recommendation, William Nyalau was fielded instead.

PKR to benefit from squabbling?

Reliable sources said some top PBB Dayak leaders are keen to push Nelson Mujah, the Lubok Antu district officer, as the BN candidate while Masing wants his private secretary Naga Alam, a former immigration officer, to stand on a BN ticket in Batang Ai to succeed the ailing Unting.

Word on the street is that PKR is planning to field the vice-president of its Dayak wing, Nicholas Bawin, in Batang Ai. Bawin has strong grassroot support in Batang and polled a sizeable vote against Nyalau in the last parliamentary elections, although he lost.

There has been talk that Masing's latest outburst against PBB is in fact directed at Jabu, who is said to have become a political liability to Taib.

alfred jabu Although considered the Dayak leader in the government, Jabu has become increasingly unpopular, with many in his Iban community as well as other indigenous groups speaking out against him.

Masing's ex-publicity chief the Balleh division, Beginda Minda, recently called on Jabu, who is one of the state's two deputy chief ministers, to resign for failing to uplift the economic well-being of the Dayak community. He also called on Taib to step down.

"Masing could not possibly have criticised PBB over the goings-on in Batang Ai if he did not know how some top PBB leaders feel about Jabu," a political observer said.