Snap chief accuses rival leader of abusing his position

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

Sarawak National Party (Snap) president James Wong Kim Min today accused his rival, party vice-president and state minister for environment and public health William Mawan, of 'abusing his position'.

According to the embattled party leader, Mawan had authorised the issuing of a letter bearing his ministry's letterhead to get Snap councillors in two areas, Kapit and Limbang, to attend the aborted national council meeting, which was originally scheduled for tomorrow.

The letter, dated June 5 was signed by the minister's private secretary Brian Fung and called on the Kapit and Limbang district councils to allow Snap councillors to attend the national council meeting — the party's highest-decision making body.

"The party has nothing to do with this and the central executive committee requests for appropriate investigation as to its proprietary," said Wong.

Yesterday, the Kuching High Court granted an ex-parte application filed by Wong's faction for an injunction to stop the national council meeting, which was called by party dissident leader, deputy president Peter Tinggom.

Following this, tomorrow's meeting was called off by dissident members. However, it will instead proceed informally since most of the 52 party divisions were already in Kuching.

Buying support

Meanwhile, the party's central executive committee meeting chaired by Wong yesterday had expressed "dismay and concern" over the "unfounded allegation" of Kemena division chairperson Liew Ah Lek that certain party leaders were buying support from divisional delegates.

Wong said he was concerned over the allegation and demanded that Liew provide proof within three days or action will be taken against him.

Liew is closely aligned to sacked member of parliament for Bintulu, Tiong King Sing.

Snap has been rocked by an internal crisis following the MP's sacking in April, resulting in the party splitting into two camps.

The rival faction, led by Tinggom and Mawan, claim that the party president and his men have lost the moral ground to lead since a majority of the members do not support them.

Last month, they called for the party's national council to meet so that members can discuss the matter but yesterday Wong managed to stop it from proceeding after obtaining an injunction from the High Court.



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