Sarawak National Party's (Snap) May 17-18 triennial general assembly (TGA) in Kuching will be kept low key without a top Barisan Nasional leader officiating at its opening.

The assembly will be "a family affair", Snap president James Wong Kim Min told reporters today after chairing the party's central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Requirements

He said the TGA was to fulfil the requirements of the party's constitution following the its de-registration last November by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and the subsequent decision of the Court of Appeal to stay the ROS' decision pending a final court decision o­n the matter.

The TGA was supposed to have been held in February this year.

Instead, Wong ( left ) said, the main function would be a 100-table dinner at the Santubong Resort near Kuching for 160 delegates and observers from the party's 62 branches o­n May 17.

The Federal Court will hear Snap's application for a judicial review of the ROS' decision to de-register the party o­n July 10.

Among those present at the CEC meeting were party secretary-general Justine Jinggut, a former member of parliament for Ulu Rajang, deputy secretary-general Stanley Jugol, and CEC member Senator William Lau.

Justine said nominations to the various party posts had closed and would be opened during the TGA o­n May 18.

"No, we do not keep them in steel boxes," he said in jest, referring to the branches' reports and annual returns of branches that had been submitted by a rival faction in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in eight steel boxes to their party headquarters.

BN functions

Asked whether Snap had since been invited to any BN functions at state and federal levels, Wong said he was invited in his capacity as Snap president to the MIC general assembly.

He added that he was not aware of any other meetings or functions of the BN.

But he said that Justine ( right ) had written to the BN secretary general Mohamad Rahmat informing him of the latest Court of Appeal's decision staying the ROS' decision.

"As far as we are concerned, the stay decision means we as a party continue with our functions," Justine said.

"That decision also means that Snap should continue to enjoy all the rights and privileges accorded to it as a BN member."

To questions o­n several ifs o­n Snap's membership status within BN, Wong chipped in to say:"We will cross each bridge when we come to it."

President Wong again?

Using an analogy to explain Snap's status within the BN, Stanley explained: "Snap is like an employee of the civil service. Suddenly he is sacked by the management. The matter is referred to the industrial court which subsequently finds he has been wrongly dismissed and orders his reinstatement with full pay and other entitlements."

On whether he would still put his name forward and contest as party president, Wong replied:" We shall see what we shall see."

One of the main reasons for the recent exodus from Snap which led to the formation of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) was Wong's refusal to step down to give way to a younger leader.

The party's forthcoming TGA is expected to be a mild affair with most if not all elected posts uncontested.