Sarawak National Party (Snap) leaders could not hide their disappointment over the Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council meeting last weekend, as it did not resolve the matter of its membership in the ruling coalition.

After their meeting with Prime Minister and BN head Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 9, they had been optimistic that BN would accept Snap as a member, even though it does not have a single elected representative left in the coalition.

Their confidence was based on the Court of Appeals decision made on April 1 this year to grant the party a stay of execution pending hearing of legal action to annul the decision made on Nov 5 last year to de-register the party.

In a press statement today, Snap president Edwin Dundang said the party had written to BN to re-apply for membership. This was based on the Mahathir's advice.

Edwin said the party was grateful to Mahathir for bringing the matter up at the BN meeting, even though they were disappointed that the supreme council will only act after disposal of the court case.

'Legitimate party'

Edwin explained: "By virtue of the decision of the Court of Appeals, Snap is a legitimate political party. This court gave Snap a stay of execution order against the ROS' decision to de-register the party.

"This order is applicable and enforceable in law and, in this case, until the court decides otherwise. The question of illegitimacy does not arise. The decision of BN supreme council is (therefore) political (but) we will respect it."

Edwin (photo, centre) called on party members and supporters to remain calm and be prepared to carry on its struggles "now that the line has been drawn".

The Snap president agreed that any decision made on the party's position in BN would have to be by consensus. If the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) - an offshoot of Snap - were to object, Snap would find the BN's door closed to it.

Many party leaders are resigned to the possibility of the party being forced to stay outside the BN when the general election is held.

It may field candidates to try and wrest back some the seats it lost after several party leaders quit to form SPDP.