The two factions embroiled in the leadership dispute in the Sarawak National Party (Snap) have both expressed confidence that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) will rule in their favour.

They have both responded to the ROS’ Ismail Dolah with lengthy reports on what had transpired within the party since April this year when the embattled party president James Wong Kim Min's detractors called a central executive committee (CEC) meeting in his absence.

This led to several other meetings culminating in party vice-president William Mawan being 'elected' the new president by an extraordinary annual general meeting called by the party rebels in August.

Mawan, the state minister for environment and public health, was promoted to full minister after the state elections last year, taking over from Wong who after many years decided to call it quits.

Wong also did not defend his Limbang state seat and instead ‘gave’ it to his son Richard Wong, the party's senior vice-president.

Delay in decision

The ROS had been widely expected to make known his decision by Sept 2 on whether Mawan is the legal president based on the actions of his group which comprises all but one of the elected representatives of the party.

There has since been much speculation since as to the reason for the delay in the announcement. Some quarters claim the decision had already been made and that certain people have been informed of it unofficially.

Snap deputy secretary-general Edmund Stanley Jugol, who is also a political secretary to the Sarawak chief minister, told malaysiakini today that according to the party's constitution, there should not be any doubt as to who the legitimate party leader is.

He said top federal Barisan Nasional leadership had, however, indicated to Wong in recent weeks that they would like to see a more conciliatory approach to resolve the differences within the party so as to avoid prolonging the crisis in view of the forthcoming parliamentary elections widely expected to be held next year.

Stanley said the party president had no problems in taking back those leaders who had been suspended — deputy president Peter Tinggom and vice-president Dr Jakson Sakai Tagal — and reinstating them in their former positions.

But he added that Wong had reservations about accepting sacked member of parliament for Bintulu Tiong King Sing. Wong said Tiong would have to wait a year before any move is made to reinstate his party membership, in accordance with the party constitution.

‘Honourable’ exit

Malaysiakini learnt from well-informed sources that Wong had written to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home minister, that he had no difficulty in taking back suspended party leaders, with the exception of Tiong.

It is understood that the Mawan group had also met federal leaders, but none has given any indication as to whether they have been informed of the desire by some top BN leaders in Kuala Lumpur to see the two factions come back together and sort things out during the party's triennial general meeting (TGM) in February next year.

A senior BN leader who asked not to be identified said Wong, 80, who has shown signs of weariness and fatigue, is now only looking for an ‘honourable’ exit.

“He knows he may be able to win the battle but not the war. The numbers are not on his side,” he said.

“The big question is how will Mawan react to the proposal that they all come back and sort it out at the TGM?”