The leadership crisis in the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), the second-biggest party in the state Barisan National, is worsening.

Assistant publicity and information officer Dr Soon Choon Teck, a staunch supporter of president Dr George Chan, will have to explain why he announced the formation of the Dudong branch in Sibu without going through procedures.

After chairing an emergency meeting yesterday, Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh said Soon would have to submit an explanation as soon as he returns from Singapore.

He said the move had gone against a central working committee (CWC) resolution last Thursday that gave the Sibu branch the liberty to set up a branch anywhere within its juridiction.

Wong, who is tipped to take over if Chan ( photo ) steps down before his term ends in 2008, said Soon had also failed to inform the four units in Dudong that he was going to set up the branch.

The Sibu branch is prepared to refer him to the CWC for disciplinary action if his explanation is unsatisfactory. This may involve suspension of membership or even expulsion.

The Sibu branch has 16 units or sub-branches or service centres, including four within the Dudong state constituency.

Soon, the state assemblyperson for Dudong, had apparently gone direct to Chan and obtained the signatures of 15 of the 26 CWC members almost immediately the approval was recorded.

His move is believed to be an attempt to garner support for Chan, who has come under pressure from party colleagues to stand down and hand over to a younger leader.

Chan is widely blamed for putting the party in a state where it is no longer regarded as an effective voice of the Chinese community, after its poor showing in the state election.

At last Thursday's meeting, he over-ruled the tabling of a no-confidence motion against him on grounds that the CWC has no authority to deal with such matters, being only responsible for day-to-day party administration.

Chan's signature?

The CWC, however, decided that no member would be prevented from tabling the motion at the higher-level central committee (CC), which has 110 members elected by delegates at the triennial delegates conference.

Malaysiakini learnt today that the Meradong branch ,headed by former Meradong state assemblyperson Ting Check Sii , met recently and unanimously adopted a resolution upholding a no-confidence resolution against Chan.

An official said the branch would be writing to the headquarters to express its wish to table the motion at the CC meeting.

Under the constitution, at least two branches representing not less than 20 percent of the total membership can requisition for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to discuss such a motion.

Chan and his supporters, mainly from Miri and from a split group in Kuching and Sri Aman, are bracing for the motion to be tabled at the CC meeting on Dec 9.

"As of now, the outcome of voting will probably go no more than five percent either way," said a political analyst.

"Within the next five weeks, the anti-Chan faction will be going round to meet CC members to garner support for the motion."

Soon's announcement on the Dudong branch has everything to do with shoring up support for the Chan who is fighting for his political survival. A new branch could give him additional delegates' votes.

Chinese media reports quoted Chan as saying yesterday in Miri that he was surprised by reports that Soon had announced the formation of the branch. It is, however, believed that one of the 15 signatures is his.

"(But) It is most unlikely that Soon would have made the announcement without getting the green light from the party president," a CWC member said.