The Sarawak National Party (Snap) has laughed off a suggestion from a senior state Barisan Nasional (BN) leader that it should stay out of the Ba'Kelalan by-election on Sept 18.

Snap secretary-general Stanley Jugol ( left ) said "that's rubbish" in response to reported remarks by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu that Snap and other parties should not contest "out of respect for the late Dr Judson Tagal " (who held the state seat until his death in a helicopter crash in July).

"Is he trying to stifle democracy? Even Umno did not ask PAS not to contest in (the) Kuala Berang (by-election on Aug 28)," Stanley said.

Jabu, who is deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak, had said that Snap president Edwin Dundang, his deputy Justine Jinggut and Stanley do not know the conditions in Ba'Kelalan as they are all from either Betong or Kapit.

"Even if Snap had members in Be'Kalalan, this would not mean they could stake a claim (to the seat), Jabu said.

Snap contends, however, that Judson had won the seat on a BN-Snap ticket twice and that the party has a right to contest the seat. It is no longer in the BN stable, having been deregistered two years ago.

It has obtained a court order granting it a reprieve pending hearing of the judicial review later this year. However, BN has refused it re-entry.

Swipes at Snap

Stanley said Jabu ( left ) appeared to be "jittery" and that he has been taking swipes at three Snap leaders ever since the general election was concluded in March.

'It is as if he is scared of losing support among the Dayaks or of losing influence in the BN, so he wants others to stay out of the by-election,' Stanley said.

He also said the party has been approached by several professionals who are native to Ba'Kelalan, who have expressed interest in contesting on a Snap ticket.

"We have not made a decision and will only (do so) at the last-minute for obvious reasons,' he added.

Meanwhile, State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis said Jabu's remarks were "silly" and that it implied there is no freedom or democracy in Malaysia.

"I think he is afraid of losing," he added.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.