[davidjoo]

THE latest chapter in the so-called PKMS saga unfolded last week, when the 'breakaway faction' unsuccessfully tried to get two banks to release the party's finances.

PKMS, or the Singapore Malay National Organisation, has kept a low profile in recent decades.

But it hit the headlines earlier this month when the breakaway group tried, without success, to take over the four-storey PKMS building.

The move resulted in a fracas which saw a member of the break-away group warded in intensive care with a fractured skull.

PKMS' building is in Changi Road. The party collects at least $25,000 in rental income each month, some members said.

Two weeks ago, The Sunday Times learnt that there was talk that developers had made offers for the land the building sits on, which is said to be worth some $10 million.

Last week, several members of the breakaway group, which is led by businessman Borhan Ariffin, made a bid to seize PKMS' accounts at DBS and Maybank.

But both banks refused, saying the necessary court order needed to be produced.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Ramli Mohamad, 49, a member of the faction, said the banks - and the Registry of Societies - required a court order stating clearly that the current PKMS office bearers, led by its president, Mr Osman Hassan, are no longer legitimate.

Mr Osman's group still occupies the PKMS building and still controls the party's funds.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Sunday Times.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_434966.html