Yayasan Teras dinner was like the scenes often seen during PBDS days

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, Oct 3, 2015 - The scene at a dinner hosted by Yayasan Pendidikan Teknikal Rakyat Sarawak (Yayasan Teras) reminded many die-hard supporters of  Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), which was deregistered on Oct 21, 2004 of the good old days when the party was still alive and kicking.

The presence of Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Datuk Seri Daniel Tajem, Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Datuk Joseph Entulu, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and Datuk Wilfred Nissom at the dinner was nostalgic.

They are the actors who were involved in the break-up of PBDS over a leadership tussle for the control of the party.

Reminding die-hard supporters of PBDS of the good old days. Seated on the same table at Yayasan Teras dinner (from left) Datuk Wilfred Nissom, Datuk Joseph Salang, Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Datuk Seri Daniel Tajem and Datuk Joseph Entulu. - Oct 2, 2015

Tajem, then the president, was challenged by Masing for the control of the party.

The biggest mistake was no so much of the infighting itself, but rather the move by the Masing faction to lodge reports of alleged wrongdoings committed by the Tajem faction to the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

RoS response was to issue a show-cause letter to the party on why it should not be deregistered.

The internal crisis in PBDS should have been resolved through politics, not resorting to RoS.

Any complaint that goes to RoS would certainly lead to the way to the issuance of show cause letter and eventually deregistration.

Former PBDS leaders. From left: Datuk Daniel Tajem, Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Tan Sri James Masing, Datuk Joseph Salang and Datuk Wilfred Nissom

A lot of things have changed since PBDS was deregistered. 

A group of die-hard PBDS members, who refused to join any other party, has formed PBDS Baru which was registered on Sept 4, 2013.

The dissolution of PBDS led to the formation two offshoot parties - one is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) led by  Masing and Datuk Sng Chee Hua which was successfully registered and admitted into Barisan Nasional while another Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) failed to be registered by RoS. 

MDC was also strongly rejected by Sarawak BN leaders, especially the Dayak leaders in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and in the Pesaka wing of Parti Bumiputera Bersatu.

Addressing a dinner to revive PBDS through the formation of PBDS Baru on Nov 4, 2012, Tajem said:
“PBDS was synonymous with Dayaks’ aspirations and hopes. It was their voice. It was the defender of their rights especially on native customary rights [NCR] land…

“Thus, PBDS’ deregistration was not only the cruellest thing the authorities did to the Dayak community, but it was also a deliberate attempt to undermine the unity and strength of the community,” he added.

At the time PBDS was deregistered, it had about 148,000 members. Some of them had joined PRS, SPDP and PKR.ends