With a last-minute compromise almost out of the question as the troubled Sarawak National Party (Snap) faces a certain de-registration in 10 days, the party faction led by newly-elected 'president' William Mawan has started 'preliminary discussions' on the draft constitution of a new party.

The move to form a new party, although already rumoured for sometime, was publicly confirmed for the first time today by the faction's secretary-general Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, who is assistant minister for infrastructure development and communications.

Judson, speaking to reporters after opening a Sarawak Rivers Board seminar in Kuching, also said that several names for the proposed party had also been put forward.

Although he did not disclose the potential names, malaysiakini understands that one name that seems to be favoured by many is Sarawak National Progressive Party (SNPP).

The draft constitution is understood to have little difference with that of the present Snap a Dayak-based party which was founded in the early 1960s before the formation of Malaysia.

Tussle for control

Mawan's faction, which has been unsuccessful in getting besieged Snap president James Wong Kim Min to step down voluntarily after being at the helm for more than two decades, comprises five state assembly representatives (including one full state minister and two assistant ministers) and four members of parliament (including one deputy federal minister).

The only non-Dayak elected representative is the Bintulu member of parliament Tiong King Sing, whose expulsion from the party in April by Wong during a central executive committee meeting was preceded by a walk-out by the Mawan group.

The two factions have since been embroiled in a tussle for control of the party.

The rebel faction, which has the support from a majority of the party grassroots, has stated that the only way to resolve the impasse is for Wong to recognise the newly-elected 'leadership' with Mawan as the new president.

Since the Registrar of Societies (ROS) sent a show-cause letter about two weeks ago to both factions on why the party should not be de-registered, Wong has made frantic efforts, including appealing to the ruling Barisan Nasional leadership, to intervene and help save the party from being de-registered.

Wong got a slap in the face when a few days later the Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zain said the Home Ministry would not intervene, and would leave the final decision to the ROS.

Poles apart

Judson, a medical graduate who ran a successful practice in Miri in northern Sarawak before entering full-time politics, is considered a Dayak intellectual, and is said to enjoy a lot of trust and confidence from Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

A Lun Bawang (a tribe found in northern Sarawak region, including Limbang, Lawas and Ba'Kelalan), Judson has virtually ruled out any prospect of a reconciliation, pointing to their respective positions as being poles apart.

His statement that preliminary talks had already started on the draft constitution would seem to indicate that preparations to set up a new party were at an advanced stage.

Abdul Taib had earlier indicated he would not mind if Snap leaders are 'temporarily parked' in the other BN component parties should the party be de-registered.

However, a seasoned political observer noted that the 'temporary parking' might well turn out to be permanent if for some reason the Mawan group could not get approval for a new party to be formed.

Apart from Snap, the Sarawak BN member parties are Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB), the Dayak-based Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and the Chinese-based Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP).

According to the observer, the top BN leadership could probably feel there are already enough political parties in the state and as such Mawan and his supporters would probably have to find a home among the other BN component parties.