Crisis-ridden Sarawak National Party (Snap), one of Sarawak's oldest-established political parties and a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional, faces a certain de-registration after indications from the leader of a rival faction that a last-minute compromise is "very doubtful".

Last Friday, Registrar of Societies Ismail Dolah Harun faxed show-cause letters to four top party leaders president James Wong Kim Min, deputy president Peter Tinggom, vice-president William Mawan and secretary-general Justine Jinggut on his intention to de-register the party.

He was apparently dissatisfied with the explanations provided by the rival factions since the crisis in the party broke out in April this year.

Malaysiakini carried an exclusive report on the delivery of the show-cause letters on Saturday after it was confirmed by a senior party leader, Senator William Lau, who is a member of the party's central executive committee.

Oct 13 deadline

Yesterday, all four party leaders confirmed receiving the letters from the ROS.

They have until Oct 13 to state the reasons why the ROS under Section 13(2) of the Societies Act should not go ahead and de-register the predominantly-Dayak-based political party that Wong has led as president since 1981.

(Wong, a local councillor elected to the state assembly in the early 1960s through a three-tier system, joined Snap several months after it was formed. When Malaysia was formed in1963, he was appointed Sarawak's first deputy chief minister under the Stephen Kalong Ningkan government).

Section 13(2) states that "where the registrar proposes to cancel the registration of any registered society under sub-section (1)(c), the registrar shall, prior to such cancellation, notify his intention to one or more of the office-bearers of the society concerned and shall give him or them an opportunity to submit reasons (if any) why the registration should not be cancelled".

Point of no return

The crisis in Snap reached a point of no return when after a series of meetings called by his own faction, William Mawan who is also the state minister of environment and public health was elected 'president' in August, effectively turning Snap into a party with two presidents, two sets of administrations and two party headquarters.

In his first public reaction to the ROS letter, Mawan was quoted today by the Malaysian Today , a local English-language tabloid, as saying that "the chances of the party being de-registered are very high now. Time is running out for both sides and unless there is a magic formula, we all have to concede to a good amount of trouble that we all have caused".

"If they (the ROS Office) are still not satisfied with our explanations, then the party may be de-registered."

Without giving reasons, Mawan appeared to have ruled out a last-minute compromise.

The Borneo Post , a local English-language daily, quoted Mawan as saying that his group had practically exhausted all avenues to resolve the party's crisis, saying they now see the 'red light' ahead.

"We are concerned, but we are not feeling hopeless about the way things will eventually end. People will be compelled to work harder to find solutions," Mawan was also quoted as saying. He, however, did not elaborate.

Next course of action

He added that there could now be a need to brief Chief Minister and Sarawak BN leader Abdul Taib Mahmud on the latest developments. He felt however that it would not be fair to drag in the chief minister into the party's internal problems.

"They (the state BN leaders) have been sympathetic to all of us but there is a limit to how much they can take."

Mawan's group will be meeting today to discuss their next course of action following the ROS decision.

In recent weeks, Mawan had given indications of the possibility of the worst happening, including the de-registration of the party, but made no hint as to what they would do.

Speculation is rife that the rebel group comprising four members of parliament and five state assemblypersons would, if the party is de-registered, 'float around' and 'eventually land in some parties within the BN'.

The other members of the state BN are Taib's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), a breakaway faction in the early 1980s from Snap.

Not 'end of the world'

Taib, who is also PBB president, has said should Snap be de-registered, its members would most likely be allowed to join other component parties.

He added he would normally not encourage party crossings by members, but indicated that this might have to be allowed under special circumstances.

The ROS' decision should also not be seen as "the end of the world (for the Snap members)". "Let's cross the bridge when we come to it (the de-registration of the party)."

Taib said he had talked to both sides, telling them to have cool heads and the courage and preparedness to come to a compromise.

Meanwhile, Wong's faction is still counting on the Mawan group, which include all but one of the party's elected representatives, to turn up at a forthcoming central executive committee meeting being scheduled on Sept 21 in Kuching.

"All CEC members, including those from the other group, will be invited for the meeting," Justine was quoted as saying by a local daily.