Sarawak National Party (Snap) deputy president Peter Tinggom today asked the party secretary-general Justine Jinggut not to ignore calls for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to resolve the leadership issue.

Tinggom, the member of parliament for Saratok and a former deputy federal minister, is aligned to the rebel group led by vice-president and state minister of environment and public health William Mawan which has demanded the immediate resignation of aging party president James Wong Kim Min.

In a press statement, Snap's No 2 said the calls by 48 of the party's 62 branches plus eight elected representatives — five state assemblymen and three members of parliament — in Sibu last week for Wong to step down was "an urgent issue".

"Those who attended the Sibu meeting have expressed their views for the need for major changes in the party," he added.

Apart from the resolution calling on Wong to resign, the Sibu meeting also demanded that secretary-general Justine Jinggut step down from his appointed post.

"The secretary-general should take note (of the views expressed by the majority of party members)," Tinggom said.

He explained that the eight elected representatives, including himself, were at the Sibu gathering to explain to rank-and-file members why they walked out of the central executive committee chaired by Wong in Kuching two weeks ago.

Meeting unconstitutional

At that meeting, Wong and his supporters voted to expel member of parliament for Bintulu, Tiong King Sing, for alleged breach of party discipline.

After receiving a letter from the secretary-general a few days ago notifying him officially of his dismissal, Tiong said he might appeal against the decision to the party's highest policy-making body — the national council.

Meanwhile, Tinggom said he disagreed with those who argued that the Sibu meeting was not properly called and unconstitutional.

Yesterday, Mawan said if Wong stepped down willingly or gave a commitment to step down in order to give way to younger leaders, it might not be necessary to call for an EGM.

Wong is away in Australia and has so far not commented on the calls for him to quit. He is expected to return early next week from Sydney where he is seeking medical attention.