Embattled Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) president Dr George Chan has clarified that the party has not decided on any arrangement whereby he, his deputy Law Hieng Ding and secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui will step down as a solution to the party's current leadership crisis.

The party chief issued a one-page statement to deny a local Chinese newspaper report on speculation that the trio would step down and that the party's deputy secretary-general and Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh would be the new party president.

The newspaper report followed a recent unsuccessful attempt by Law to move a no-confidence motion against Chan at the party's October 26 central working committee(CWC) meeting.

Although seconded by another CWC member Daniel Ngieng from Sibu, the motion was not put to a vote after Chan rejected it by arguing that the CWC had no business to consider such a matter.

But this could not avoid a bad blood among the 26 CWC members, said to be weighted more in favour of the anti-Chan faction, led by Law.

In his statement, issued yesterday afternoon, Chan, who is a deputy chief minister, said he hoped there was no ulterior motive behind the newspaper report to 'mislead party members into believing that the party has come to such an arrangement.'

However, he added that "I have to state here that as a result of the recent events within the party, it is a fact that there are on-going efforts by party central leaders to iron out differences that may have arisen."

"(Therefore) it is still premature at this stage to make known any of the on-going efforts to settle the differences and it is in the best interest of the party to leave the press out of it," he said.

No conclusion yet

Chan, who is presently believed to be overseas, added that "we are still working towards an acceptable and workable solution and have not come to any conclusion as yet."

"It is therefore incorrect to report that the three leaders mentioned in the press report are stepping down," he said, adding that "it is also most unethical, irresponsible and dishonourable for certain quarters to speculate on such matters."

Chan said the issue on the current party leadership or any future leadership is not determined by a few leaders "because it is a matter for the party members to decide ultimately in accordance with the party constitution."

He said during the forthcoming central committee (CC) meeting on December 9, he would present a Supp Forward Plan to rejuvenate the party.

"Ultimately, the rejuvenation of Supp must be based on the people's interest so that Supp will be able to serve the people more effectively," he added.

On his own position, Chan said as he had been elected to lead the party until the end of 2008, he would stand firm and be committed to do his best as party president.