The Sarawak National Party (Snap), back in business after Tuesday's Court of Appeal ruling in Kuala Lumpur, will hold its long-awaited triennial general assembly (TGA) o­n May 18 in Kuching to elect new office-bearers.

The decision was made by the party's first central executive committee (CEC) meeting in Kuching today since it was deregistered by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in November last year.

The Court of Appeal granted a stay of execution of the ROS' decision pending the final outcome of an application for a judicial review to have the ROS' decision quashed.

Vacant posts filled

Thirteen of the 24 elected CEC members attended the meeting. They included party president James Wong Kim Min and secretary-general Justine Jinggut.

The other elected members had left the party when it was de-registered, to join the newly-registered Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), led by a former Snap vice- president William Mawan.

Wong told reporters after chairing the meeting that the party has also appointed eight new members to the CEC to replace those who had left.

They include Dayral Walter Entrie, the lawyer-son of Snap deputy secretary-general Stanley Juggol and who now acts as party youth chief,; and Puan Sri Roselind Ningkan, wife of the late Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Sarawak's first Chief Minister and former Snap president. She becomes caretaker women's head pending the party elections in May.

The party has 62 branches throughout Sarawak. Divisions yet to hold their annual general meeting have been directed to do so and to submit their annual returns to party headquarters before the TGA.

Wong to step down?

Speculation is that Wong will step down at the TGA and that senior Iban leader Edwin Dundang, former chairman of Miri Port Authority (MPA) and a former senior Shell executive, will take over the party.

Stanley Juggol is widely tipped to take over as deputy president. He is currently political secretary to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Barisan Nasional chief and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud cast further doubt o­n Snap's position within the coalition when he told reporters yesterday that "as far as the realities of the situation are concerned, the State BN is functioning well under the present set-up".

Wong refused to be drawn into commenting today, except to say, "How can I read his mind?"

Two days ago, Wong told reporters he would leave it to the federal BN leadership to decide o­n Snap's status within the ruling coalition.

In November, Abdul Taib had said Snap's readmission into BN would not be automatic even if it was legally revived.