The Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), a member of the state's ruling coalition, is heading towards a fresh round of leadership crisis.

Barely three months after the two factions in the party agreed to set aside their differences temporarily in the interest of the party, it now emerged that a recent party appointment is the cause for the new crisis.

The politician in the middle of this is Dr Soon Choon Teck, an ally of party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan.

The central working committee's (CWC) decision to appoint him as the Dudong branch pro-tem committee chairman to replace Lanang MP Tiong Thai King has caused some tension in the party.

Party members point out that the CEC meeting which rubber stamped Soon's appointment was not a unanimous decision.

Eleven out of the 26 CWC members boycotted the meeting held at 8.15 am recently - the first time a CWC meeting was held in the morning.

Most of those absent were from the Sibu branch, including Wong Soon Koh, senior state minister and de facto leader of the faction opposed to Chan's leadership.

The others included party deputy president and Sarikei MP Law Hieng Ding, another of the president's nemesis, and Deputy Minister of Local Government and Sibu branch deputy chairperson Robert Law Hoi Chew.

The only one from Sibu who attended was Ting Jek Sii, a former assemblyperson for Meradong.

Chan told reporters that the CWC meeting had made a decision on the question of the chairmanship for the Dudong branch, but he did not name the person.

Malaysiakini however understands that the CEC had appointed Dr Soon to replace Tiong, the politician brother of media and timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King. Dr Soon could not be reached for comment.

Grasping for support

Meanwhile a press statement issued after the meeting said the CWC had agreed to set up a branch in every of the 71 state constituencies but this would be done gradually over a period of time in accordance with rules and procedures as provided for under the party constitution.

But the two factions have been seen to be rushing to set up new branches in areas they control ahead of the party elections in 2009 when Chan is supposed to step down and a new leader takes over.

Chan is understood to want the party organising secretary Peter Chin, a Miri-born federal minister as his successor, while the faction opposed to his leadership favours Wong Soon Koh from Sibu.

Leaders of the two factions are hardly on talking terms these days, going about their own duties and clearly on the move on the ground to build their own support among members throughout the state.