Sarawak National Party's (Snap) central executive member John Antau has warned detractors of party president James Wong Kim Min to reconsider their move in trying to force Wong's resignation if they do not want to end up as losers.

Antau, the party's Jepak (Bintulu) division head, said during a Kakus division dinner attended by senior vice-president Richard Wong Shoon Fook during the weekend that those who aspire to bring down Wong should realise it is not easy to topple the president.

He added that history had shown that even leaders who had seemed to have an overwhelming edge to beat Wong had failed to unseat him.

Antau was referring to the futile attempt by a group of Iban leaders, led by Leo Moggie (now president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak), to take over the party in the early 1980s.

Moggie, who is the federal Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia, later led a breakaway group to form PBDS.

Antau' statement, according to political observers, is seen as a move to try and placate the rebel group of elected representatives, led by Snap vice-president and local Minister of Environment and Public Health William Mawan, not to antagonise the party president further, forcing him to defend his position in the forthcoming party elections in February next year.

And in comments attributed to him in a report today in an English-language daily, Sarawak Tribune , Richard Wong was quoted as ruling himself out as being next in line to take over as party president should his father decide to step down.

No indication

But he gave no indication as to whether his father would be making any announcement on his leadership position in the party on his return, expected within the next few days, from Australia where he has been recuperating after a knee cap operation.

Richard, who is also the state assemblyperson for Limbang, acknowledged that there were more senior party leaders who should take over as the next party president.

He refuted the recent claim by party deputy president Peter Tinggom that the president is trying to perpetuate a Wong dynasty in Snap.

Speaking at the Kakus women's section function in Bintulu, Snap senior vice-president described Tinggom's claim as "incorrect, speculative and unhealthy" for the party.

Without saying it in so many words, he has portrayed himself as not ambitious, but advised presidential aspirants to show good examples and display the capabilities of a good leader.

Richard said while his father could hand over Limbang Trading Company (the family business) to him if he wants to, he could not just do that in the case of Snap. "My position as party senior vice-president is through the party electoral process and not given to me on a silver platter."

With Richard ruling himself out for the top post, who is therefore, next in line to succeed Wong?

Who's next?

Mawan's own political future appears to be increasingly in doubt because of some litigation pending against him over business deals.

The party's No 1 post would, therefore, appear to be unattainable for Mawan whom Tinggom has publicly endorsed for president.

In the event he is by-passed, who then will likely be promoted?

Should present deputy president Tinggom keep to his word and step down, next in line to take over as deputy president or even president is Peter Nyarok, one of seven elected vice-presidents and an assistant minister.

Nyarok, aligned to the Mawan group, has kept a low profile from the start of the party crisis, and has limited his public statements on the leadership issue.

Observers see him as a strategist who knows that if for some reason Mawan does not move up the party hierarchy, he is certain to be next in line to take over, although some feel he lacks the leadership capabilities.

Malaysiakini understands that James Wong had written "a nice letter" to Mawan from Australia but the contents were not revealed.

This could perhaps explain why Mawan has lately toned down his rhetoric, allowing Tinggom and another Snap vice-president and Youth leader Dr Judson Tagal, who is also an assistant minister, to move to the forefront in making public statements on the leadership issue.

It is believed, however, that Wong had indicated he would have to step down eventually because of age but that he needed to be sure first that the party would be in good hands.

Wong had told close friends and some journalists that what he does not want to see happen is "putting the party in the hands of a leader who might compromise the interests of Snap". He still remembers the party's turbulent past history.

Reconciliation effort

Malaysiakini also understands notwithstanding the combative vibes from the Mawan group, third parties have been active in attempting to mediate a settlement

The party president could well diffuse the question on his return by announcing that he had enough and would be handing over the leadership to a younger leader at the next triennial general assembly.

But the Mawan group, comprising all but one of the party's elected representatives, might want more. These include the immediate removal of secretary-general Justine Jinggut, the president's appointee whom they consider a major cause of Snap's recent problems, and also dropping several CEC members appointed by Wong. Among them are Wong's relatives and golfing buddies.

An attempt was made by Tinggom to call for an emergency CEC meeting at the party headquarters last Friday. But headquarters denied any knowledge of such a meeting, clarifying that there were procedures to follow before any such meeting could be called.

The party headquarters in Rubber Road was closed on Friday, and a spokesperson said the Dayak staff had asked for the day off for Gawai Dayak shopping.

Headquarters had already sent out notices for a CEC meeting on June 15 that is to be chaired by the president. It is not known whether the CEC members aligned to Mawan will attend.

It is widely expected, however, that if Wong still does not reveal his plans on the leadership position, a showdown will be inevitable between the two factions.