Former Sarawak National Party (Snap) members who are still partyless have been asked to remain 'confident' and 'optimistic' that the party will soon be re-instated.

"Let us all abide by the resolutions we made when we met on Nov 16, 2002 that together as people having faith and principle, we shall fight the de-registration of the party," Edwin Dundang, who chaired that meeting, said in a signed press statement on Tuesday.

Dundang, who is a former Snap leader and chairperson of Miri Port Authority, issued the press statement to "answer and clarify points and issues raised by many ex-Snap members ... who anxiously await the outcome of the appeal against the ROS [Registrar of Societies] decision to re-register Snap."

He added: "When Snap is re-instated, it will be a rejuvenated Snap. It is Snap Baru, so to speak, as it should be appropriately cleaned and pruned following its de-registration."

"Although we are still hurt and continue to be disappointed by the de-registration as an uncalled for and an unjust act, we as ex-Snap members must look ahead with confidence, hope and optimism that on appeal our party will be re-instated in 2003 as a new year's gift."

Unprecedented landmark

Dundang lamented that Snap's de-registration on Nov 5 last year was an unprecedented landmark in the political developments of Malaysia.

He maintained that the party was de-registered in spite of not having done anything wrong legally and constitutionally.

"It will take time for the Home Affairs Ministry to decide on our appeal. We in Snap who stay put in the party are tolerant and law-abiding citizens who are assets for a stable, united and successful Malaysia.

"We trust the minister in charge of home affairs will soon make a decision without fear or favour but fairly and constitutionally in accordance with the due process of the party constitution," said Dundang.

Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also deputy prime minister, can exercise his powers to revoke the ROS' decision.

Dundang also described the de-registration of the party as a "blessing in disguise" for it had created what he called "a process of cleaning and pruning Snap as a party" to strengthen and unite Snap as well as the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which the defunct party was a member of.

"As a result of the de-registration, those who never love Snap and those who stand as obstacles to its future development and success have left the party for the comfort of all."

Admission of failure

Edwin also referred to a statement in the local press by the pro-tem information chief of the newly-formed Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) on what he described as "the failure of the new party to convert ex-Snap members to SPDP."

Peter Howell, the SPDP information head, had been quoted by the Sunday Tribune as saying that the situation in the rural areas the majority of Snap's rank-and-file are not ready to accept changes, including the re-registration of Snap.

This, according to Dundang, "is a clear indication of admission of failure by the pro-tem information chief of SPDP."

"Snap has always been rural-based right from the inception of the party 41 years ago and even now as reported our support remains intact.

"We fully believe this report by the pro-tem information chief as he is in the best position to correctly update all concern with the latest happenings in SPDP," he said.

In recent days, local newspapers have been running stories of SPDP encountering difficulties in recruiting more members, especially from among ex-Snap members, in the rural areas ahead of the party's February first triennial delegates conference. But this has been denied by top party leaders.

Snap, one of Sarawak's oldest political parties, was de-registered by the ROS after an almost year-long leadership struggle between two factions.

After its deregistration, party leaders who held the majority of party and government posts established SPDP.