The Sarawak National Party (Snap) may be down, but intends to prove that it is not out. It will hold a two-day national council meeting in Kuching from Saturday.

It appears to be still smarting, though, from the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) decision to de-register it in November 2002 and the alleged 'ill treatment' at the hands of the Barisan Nasional state leadership.

These under-currents are reflected in the council meeting theme, 'Justice and Fairness for All'.

Snap president Edwin Dundang, speaking to reporters after the party's monthly central executive committee meeting yesterday, said 50 of the 64 party divisions, including the youth and women's wings, will send representatives to the meeting.

Edwin did not hide his displeasure over the fact that Snap candidates had been left out of the recent Sarawak government exercise to appoint councillors for local authorities.

He questioned why former members of the de-registered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) have been appointed councillors.

(While PBDS has appealed to the home minister against the ROS decision, Snap is operating under a reprieve from the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Last year, the court granted a stay order against the ROS decision pending disposal of the party's application for a judicial review.)

Snap secretary-general Stanley Jugol told malaysiakini that the court sat last Friday to enable lawyers to exchange certain documents and to consider a date in May for the judicial review.

Stanley said Snap had sought access to documents from the ROS, in particular letter(s) written by former party leaders that could have influenced the decision on de-registration.

'Healthy politics'

Edwin also also criticised Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu deputy president and deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu for saying that the Dayak community would suffer if Snap were to contest against BN in the forthcoming general election.

Snap vice-president leader Justine Jinggut had said last December that the party would have no choice but to contest outside the BN if no decision is made on its status by then.

"Only those who are stupid will challenge the BN....if we want to oppose the BN just for the sake of opposing, our community will suffer," Jabu was quoted as saying in a Sarawak newspaper.

However, Edwin countered: "For our democracy to be truly working, to be enjoyed and to become a way of life, citizens should be encouraged to take part in healthy politics."

He welcomed BN secretary-general Khalil Yaakob's recent statement that he would meet Snap (and PBDS) leaders to gather facts and views on internal problems, and to arrange for the two parties to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Edwin said Snap has written to Khalil for an appointment.

"We are awaiting his reply. We are very excited about that development," he added.