History has not been kind to Sarawak National Party (Snap). Its strength had been sapped and its support considerably weakened by a spate of internal conflicts since its formation in 1961.
Founder Stephen Kalong Ningkan was sacked as chief minister in 1966, three years after leading Snap to helm Sarawaks first post-independence government. Besides the Land Bill issue and the chief ministers poor relationship with Kuala Lumpur at that time, Snap turncoats were also believed to have played a part in Ningkans ouster.
In 1970, Snap was left out of Sarawaks first coalition government after it was allegedly played out by Sarawak United Peoples Party (Supp) and the then Parti Bumiputra. Again, internal bickering in Snap had a hand in Supps decision not to team up with it to form the government.
The 1981 tussle for the party presidency between James Wong and Leo Moggie dealt the most serious blow to Snap. The party never recovered after the defeated Moggie founded the breakaway Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) two years later.
In 1987, Snap was only left with two state assembly representatives after the rest left to join the infamous Ming Court revolt against Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The two remaining elected representatives in Snap, James Wong and Dr Patau Rubis, were then rewarded with state ministerial posts by Taib after the revolt failed.
However in 1995, Patau, then Snaps senior vice-president, was sacked from the state cabinet for allegedly supporting independent candidates in the general election that year.
Patau resigned from Snap a year later to form the State Reform Party, Sarawak (Star) and is still president of the opposition party today.
In trouble again
Today, Snap is in trouble again. The sacking of Tiong King Sing from the party is only the tip of the iceberg. That there is a genuine leadership vacuum in the party is one long-standing issue which cannot be denied.
The partys Number Two, Peter Tinggom, is in his late 70s and is probably more happy spending his remaining years in retirement. He was not re-appointed as a deputy minister in the federal cabinet after the 1999 general election although he successfully retained his Saratok parliamentary seat.
Tinggoms successor in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Tiki Lafe, is very junior in Snap and does not hold any major post in the party. He is also in his first term as an MP. Snaps lack of suitable candidates propelled Tiki to his position in the federal cabinet.
Vice-president William Mawan Ikom, said to be the front-runner to succeed James Wong as party chief, has been perceived as a poor administrator. Also, his messy personal life does not endear him to many of his colleagues. However, his status as a state minister as well as being an Iban could win him enough support for lack of another choice.
Another two senior stalwarts, Baram MP Jacob Sagan and Dr Judson Tagal, the state assembly representative for BaKelalan, belong to the minority Orang Ulu community. They may have difficulty in garnering support in the Iban-dominated Snap.
Dead-end
Against such a backdrop, perhaps it is understandable why James Wong has so much difficulty in choosing a successor. He is probably correct in some ways if he feels that he could not find a suitable one among the current crop of leaders.
But then again, after having led Snap for 21 years and leading it to a dead-end, Wong should also be courageous enough to let go. His vast political experience should enable him to read the clear writing on the wall.
I honestly doubt that Snap could afford another major internal crisis. Its current problems are serious indeed.
Snaps key leaders are distancing themselves from the party president. The party is being sued for the first time in its history, risking de-registration if it lose the case. Thousand of its members are threatening to resign. Party rebels are also contemplating an extraordinary general meeting to oust certain leaders.
Respect for Snap is, slowly but surely, eroding from its BN partners. To top its list of miseries, the party president has not found a successor yet.
New airport
Unless the party leadership is able to come up with some solutions fast, Bintulu and Tiong King Sing may well be the sparks of another major internal conflict that could drive the final nail into Snaps coffin.
But whether that will eventually happen or not, I hope the Bintulu MP could fulfill one very important wish of the people of his hometown.
Talks on the new Bintulu airport project had been going on for years. But it never took off. Perhaps Tiong could repay the electoral support he received from the people now by working hard to get the new airport project moving. The people of Bintulu need it more than another TV station.
If Tiong is able to do so, it will remain his legacy forever even if this is his first and only term as the MP for Bintulu.
Whatever may happen to Snap, it will not be as catastrophic as an aviation mishap in an airport smack right in the heart of town.
FRANCIS SIAH is a former Sarawak newspaper editor and now a columnist for several publications. He is also former secretary general of the State Reform Party, Sarawak (Star).
This is the second and final part of an article on the political crisis in Snap. Part 1
appeared yesterday.