Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is to meet Supp's central working committee (CWC) members in Kuching tomorrow.

It is believed that the meeting is over the party's apparent unhappiness in not appointing a party member as Kuching City South mayor.

The departure from the 43-year tradition following the appointment of a civil servant to the post has caused major ripples in the party, with several leaders calling for the heads of the top leadership.

Supp deputy president and former federal minister Law Hieng Ding told malaysiakini today that he was informed by Taib's political secretary of the meeting three days ago.

The meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon at the chief minister's residence in Demak Jaya.

However, Law said he would not be able to make it as he would still be away from the state.

"I have not been told about the purpose of the meeting," he said.

The appointment of a non politician for the first time since 1963 as mayor is not the only issue that has created a lot of unhappiness within the leadership ranks of the party.

There have been several other examples which many party leaders and members see as a clear indication the party is being ignored in the decision-making process in the state government.

The party has also agreed to call for a special delegates conference in December for the party leaders to explain the loss of the mayor's post as well as the other issues critical to the party's survival.

Urban problems

A major area where Supp has been perceived as not ineffective is over its failure to get the state government to make a clear stand on the issue of renewal of land leases.

This is a problem affecting tens of thousands of land owners, especially in urban areas like Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

The reluctance of the state authorities to state clearly the terms and conditions for the renewal of these leases which are about to expire has been blamed by the party as a major factor for its loss of many urban seats in the May state elections.

It is not known whether tomorrow's meeting with the chief minister has been arranged by party president Dr George Chan, who has come under strong criticism within the party for his leadership, or whether it has been called at Taib's own initiative.

"Either way it doesn't look good for Chan as party leader, as an outsider is seen to be trying to influence the CWC members, possibly to tell them if they are satisfied with his explanation there will be no need for a special delegates conference," sources said.

"There is worry that allowing delegates to speak their mind at a special delegates conference will be like opening a can of worms or a pandora's box and that not just Chan but also Taib could be a target," the sources added.

"If this were to happen it could be embarrassing to the top leadership, and could even jeopardise the party's position in the coalition," they commented.