With a last-minute compromise almost out of the question as the troubled Sarawak National Party (Snap) faces a certain de-registration in 10 days, the party faction led by newly-elected 'president' William Mawan has started 'preliminary discussions' on the draft constitution of a new party.

The move to form a new party, although already rumoured for sometime, was publicly confirmed for the first time today by the faction's secretary-general Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, who is assistant minister for infrastructure development and communications.

Judson, speaking to reporters after opening a Sarawak Rivers Board seminar in Kuching, also said that several names for the proposed party had also been put forward.

Although he did not disclose the potential names, malaysiakini understands that one name that seems to be favoured by many is Sarawak National Progressive Party (SNPP).

The draft constitution is understood to have little difference with that of the present Snap a Dayak-based party which was founded in the early 1960s before the formation of Malaysia.