Sarawak National Party (Snap) rebel group led by William Mawan is bracing itself for the worst, including witnessing the demise of their party by next month.

Mawan said that as far as his group of nine was concerned, they were ready to face the 'death' of Snap, Sarawak's second oldest political party.

"We are more or less prepared for the worst, come what may," he was quoted as saying by Sarawak Tribune today.

On de facto Snap president James Wong Kim Ming's intention to bring a Snap delegation to help campaign for the Barisan Nasional in the upcoming Gaya parliamentary by-election, Mawan hoped Snap would still be around by then.

"I hope they can do that if Snap still exists. If it doesn't, I hope they can contribute to a BN victory," he said.

Official confirmation

Earlier, Mawan said he would be more than happy if Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had 'expressed satisfaction' with Wong's explanation on efforts to save the party from de-registration, although Mawan has reservation about the party president's claim.

"We hope it is true," he told reporters after a meeting with Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in Kuching yesterday.

Mawan was commenting on a statement by Wong that the Abdullah was "very happy" with his explanation and that he was confident the ROS would not de-register the party.

Wong (photo) was reported of having made the statement during a press conference at the Kuching International Airport after his return from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

According to Mawan, the group of nine would not rely on hearsay but would wait for an official confirmation in black and white.

"I think we have only the show cause letter from the ROS to attend to. The decision will be on Oct 13 and apart from that, we don't have further comment.

"The show cause is official, not hearsay. If [James] Wong has good news after meeting Pak Lah, then it will only be a matter of time before we also get the good news from Pak Lah. But the bad news is Oct 13 has not arrived yet," he told the Tribune .

Mawan said what was important now was to comply with all the requirements to prevent the party from being de-registered.

On Wong's claim that the suspension of Peter Tinggom and Dr Judson Tagal was lifted upon Pak Lah's suggestion, Mawan laughed heartily.

"I don't think Pak Lah will give such directive to suspend or lift any suspension (of any BN party member) from a hotel in KL. That is quite funny," he said.

Multi-million defamation suit

In a related development, the member of Parliament for Bintulu Tiong King Sing filed a multi-million ringgit defamation suit against de facto secretary-general of Snap Justine Jinggut (photo).

Tiong is claiming a total amount of RM26 million which includes RM10 million for general damages for slander and libel, RM8 million for aggravated damages and another RM8 million for exemplary damages.

According to the Tribune the writ of summon and the statement of claim were filed at the Miri High Court on Wednesday by Tiong's counsel, Ling Kuong Meng.

In the statement of claim, Tiong stated that Jinggut had falsely and maliciously spoken of him, his sacking and unfulfilled promise to pay RM1.5 million as part of a TV3 transmission station construction cost at a meeting of Snap members in Bau district on 28 July, 2002, in the presence and hearing of a few hundred Snap members and other persons whose names were unknown to Tiong.

This was followed by the publication of Jinggut's words in four Chinese newspapers the following day, which, in their natural and ordinary meaning, meant that Tiong is a liar, a hypocrite, a dishonest person, an untruthful or unworthy person, not fit for an office of MP, is a troublemaker in Snap, a bankrupt, insolvent and cannot pay his debt, a wicked politician, is guilty of corrupt practice or has committed an election offence during the last parliamentary election, is guilty of disloyalty to Snap and the people, is guilty of misconduct in Snap, was sacked from Snap for his dishonest conduct and because he made an empty promise and had hefty debts.

In the claim, Tiong added that he was and at all material time the MP for Bintulu, a justice of peace, a chief executive officer of Wijaya Baru Global Bhd a public listed company in Malaysia and Wijaya Baru Group of companies, besides being advisor to numerous clubs and associations in Sarawak.

He asserted that since the central executive committee of Snap expelled him as a member of the party on April 20 this year, the decision of which had been annulled by the national council of Snap on June 23 and at the emergency general meeting of Snap on Aug 11, he was "and is all the material time a member of Snap, which is a component member of Barisan Nasional."

No sufficient apology

In supporting his claims for aggravated damages, Tiong stated that Jinggut had been motivated by ill-will, spite and malevolence in his bid to injure his feeling of dignity, pride and popularity in Snap and to the general public at large.

Tiong said although the words used by Jinggut were very serious and offensive against him, the latter failed to make any sufficient apology and did not reply his letters dated July 29, August 6 and Sept 17.

Tiong said Jinggut's spoken words and publication of such words in newspapers were to make political capital in his political struggle against him.

The MP for Bintulu said Jinggut's dominant motive was actuated by his desire to attack him and make political capital in gaining support from Snap members and the general public at large.