Were old and should quit, Snap deputy chief tells boss

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

Sarawak National Party (Snap)s 77-year-old deputy president Peter Tinggom today called on the party chief James Wong Kim Min, who is three years older, to step down gracefully with him at the party's triennial general assembly next February.

The pair have been have been in power since 1983.

Speaking at a press conference, Tinggom, the member of parliament for Saratok and a former deputy federal minister, said both of them are old and it is time for them to give way to the younger leaders in the party.

Tinggom is aligned to Snap vice-president William Mawans group which comprises all but one of the party's elected representatives who staged a walk-out at last Saturday's central executive committee meeting chaired by Wong.

The meeting debated the fate of the 'recalcitrant' member of parliament for Bintulu Tiong King Sing.

Wong's motion to expel Tiong for alleged breach of party discipline was supported by two-thirds of the CEC members present after nine members, led by Mawan, staged the walk out.

Tinggom, who was among the nine, said the party could not ignore the fact that its strength lies in the number of elected representatives it has.

They are the ones who make the party strong. They are the party's base. They represent the rakyat and the rakyat's concerns and well-being are taken care of by the elected representatives.

Without the elected representatives the party will just be an empty shell, said the deputy president.

He added that the party should listen to their elected representatives more and take their views  however unpalatable  seriously.

Autocratic leadership

Tinggom attributed the historic walk-out to the present leadership's autocratic style in decision-making.

'This was not the first case. I know for a fact that in the past many incidents have happened where the views of the elected representatives were rejected or set aside and those of the president had to go through, he claimed.

The case of the member of parlimanet for Bintulu was only a climax to many such decisions in the past few years, he said.

Tinggom felt it was time a stand is made otherwise the party will slide into disintegration as more of such decisions are made to undermine the strength of Snap and consequently of the Barisan Nasional.

Saying that he would not seek re-election as deputy president nor offer himself as a candidate for parliament again, Tinggom added: I have served James Wong long enough. I have spent a good number of years for Snap and I hope I have contributed to the strength, solidarity and stability of the BN.

Reiterating his call on Wong to retire, the deputy president said: We should have faith that we both have taught our young leaders well through our instructions and examples. They will use these knowledge and experiences to further strengthen Snap and the BN.

Tinggom said he felt that vice-president Mawan would be the logical choice to assume the leadership of Snap because of his seniority in service and taking into consideration his elevation to an assistant minister and subsequently to a full minister

Mawan is the current state minister of environment and public health.

He is well surrounded by young, capable, experienced and professional leaders who make a very solid team, said Tiggom.

Other leaders present at the press conference were two Snap assistant ministers Dr Judson Tagal and Peter Nyarok, state assemblyperson for Tasik Biru, Peter Nansian and state assemblyperson for Marudi, Sylvester Entri.

Mawan was in Kuala Lumpur on official duty.



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