After the de-registration of the Sarawak National Party (Snap), two of its former president James Wong Kim Ming's staunch supporters one state assemblyperson and another a senator are in a dilemma as to the next course of action they should take.

Richard Wong, the assemblyperson for Limbang, is seen in a greater dilemma than Senator William Lau (right).

For him, joining the newly-registered Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), led by his father's political nemesis William Mawan, the state minister of environment and public health, is for now the most unlikely thing to happen, as it will be seen as a betrayal to his father and former party leader, Wong Sr.

If he is not thinking of continuing to serve beyond his current term, then it is most likely he will stay put as an independent assemblyperson and serve out his present term.

After Sarawak Chief Minister and Barisan Nasional chief Abdul Taib Mahmud has more or less 'directed' Wong to join the new party in the past two weeks, the doors to the other two state component parties Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) are as good as closed to him.

With SPDP already accepted as a new member of the state Barisan Nasional and the forthcoming decision of the federal BN a foregone conclusion, the question of a temporary parking in a BN component party is no longer an issue.

Meeting with Taib

According to latest newspaper reports, Wong, 52, is seeking an appointment to see Taib, indicating that he is unlikely to acquiesce to the latter's request that he join the new party.

He will probably tell Taib that he wants more time to decide, particularly since some office-bearers of the de-registered Snap have appealed to the court against the Registrar of Societies' decision to strike the party's name off the registry.

Presently, the state BN controls all but two of the 62 seats in the state assembly.

The two non-BN members are Chiew Ching Sing (DAP-Kidurong) and Wong Judat (Independent-Meluan). Wong Judat, according to reports, has applied to join SPDP but his application has yet to be considered.

So one seat is not likely to affect the state BN's position in anyway in the state, and speculation has it that Wong may be allowed time to make a final decision on his position, that is whether to join SPDP (which is considered unlikely for reasons as mentioned earlier) or whether he will be allowed to join either SUPP or PBDS eventually.

The position of senator William Lau, a Sibu-based lawyer and corporate leader, is slightly different.

He told malaysiakini that he would serve out his remaining term which ends in two years time as he was appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He added that he needed more time to consider the call for him to join the new party.

Lau is currently attending Senate sitting which will adjourn sine die this weekend.

Tony Thien is a malaysiakini correspondent.