Snap chief not keen on an early party meeting

comments     Tony Thien     Published     Updated

Sarawak National Party (Snap) president James Wong Kim Min does not agree to a suggestion that the date of the party's triennial delegates meeting (TGM) be brought forward as a way to resolve the party crisis quickly.

A senior Snap leader, who asked not to be quoted, told malaysiakini today that Wong had told his supporters this during a meeting in his house last week.

This was the party's first reaction to the comments on the suggestion by the president's principal challenger Snap vice-president William Mawan.

On Wednesday, Mawan, who is also state Minister of Environment and Public Health and the Snap leader of his group of elected representatives want to take over immediately from Wong, issued a statement asking that the convening of either a national council meeting or an early TGM or an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) be included in the agenda for the forthcoming central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Earlier, Wong said in a press statement that he had decided to call another CEC meeting and invited all CEC members to attend.

Although no date has been announced, malaysiakini understands that this has been tentatively fixed at the end of June. But the notice of meeting has still not been sent out, "partly because the Snap president has sought an appointment to see the prime minister and the chief minister".

"He wants to be sure once the offices of the PM and CM have confirmed the appointments the dates are all clear," the senior party leader said, adding that Wong is anxious to meet the top BN leaders to explain what has been going on and to tell them his side of the story.

No point to attend

The Mawan group, who have been clamouring for Wong and the party's secretary-general to step down after expressing unhappiness at what they described as the way party affairs have been conducted, said on Wednesday they see no point in attending any CEC meeting unless the president can agree to the pre-condition.

The senior SNAP leader said the party president takes offence to anyone who as much as tries to dictate terms to him in public. "There should have been a little bit more discretion and respect," he added.

He said the best thing for the Mawan group to do is to write to the president indicating what they want to discuss at the forthcoming meeting instead of airing their views through the media.

He also clarified a statement made by Mawan concerning the appointment of CEC members in February this year after the last national council meeting.

The senior party leader said after the last council meeting which elected the ordinary CEC members, including all the vice-presidents, the president was given the mandate by all CEC members to decide on the appointment of CEC members.

This had been agreed to by all the elected representatives of the party during the CEC meeting in February.

But after the April 20 CEC meeting the Mawan group was surprised at the attendance of the appointed members and objected to it on the ground that as CEC members they had never been consulted.

Making excuses

"That is of course not the true position," the senior Snap leader told malaysiakini .

Asked whether the Mawan group was making excuses not to attend the forthcoming CEC meeting, he said this was possible.

"They probably expect the president and the CEC to take action against them — like suspension or even expulsion — so that could lead to a break-up of the party with them leaving for another party."

Asked why the Snap chief would not agree to an early TGM as demanded by the Mawan group, the senior party leader said the president has a fight on his hand, his opponents want to see him go quickly, and he will not fall into their trap and agree.

"The president will want to go to the ground, assess his strength and then decide when the party elections should be held," he added.

The Mawan group is said to be uncertain of their chances with any delay in the TGM being held because the president and his supporters would have time to strengthen their own positions and turn the table on their opponents.

Within the last two months, after holding their own gatherings in Kuching, Miri and Sibu, the Mawan group claims to have the support of most party's divisions in Sarawak. They were so confident they called a CEC meeting of their own and fixed June 9 as the date for the national council meeting.

But anticipating some censure measures, Wong and his secretary-general Justine Jinggut went to court and obtained an interim injunction. The national council meeting was aborted.

Best forum

This threw the Mawan group off balance, and Wong said the opportunity to try and talk some sense into them by calling a CEC meeting, telling them this would be the best forum to sort things out.

Now Mawan and his group are debating whether to attend and in the meantime put some pre-conditions which are almost certain to be rejected outright by Wong.

Aides of Wong told malaysiakini although the number may not be on his side, the constitution and time are on the president's side. The president could afford to play a waiting game, asking his men to go down to the ground and ensure that they win back enough of support from the party's divisions before the next TGM.

"For this reason, Mawan and his group know if they want to take over the party it has to be either by calling a national council or EGM now or bringing the date of the TGM forward to as early as September," the senior Snap leader told malaysiakini .

"Wong can wait. But can they?"

Malaysiakini understands that the Wong camp has been talking not only about putting their supporters to head Snap divisions in as many areas as possible but also potential candidates to replace the existing Snap MPs in four constituencies — Mas Gading, Saratok, Baram and Bintulu.

"We are not short of qualified people to take over as candidates," one of the Snap president's men said, saying that the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad may call elections as early as mid-2003.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In