The Kuala Lumpur High Court today postponed its delivery of the judgment on the application by the opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap) to quash the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) decision to de-register the party in 2002.

Snap deputy president Justine Jinggut, the plaintiff applicant, told malaysiakini this morning that the party had received a letter from its lawyers about the postponement as the court needed more time to prepare the written judgment.

High Court judge Mohd Raus Shariff was originally scheduled to deliver the judgment at 11 am today.

Snap, a Dayak-based party formed in the early 60s, was de-registered on Nov 5, 2002 following a protracted leadership squabble that led to the formation of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), now a member of the state Barisan Nasional.

Within weeks of its re-degistration, the party applied to the court for a judicial review of the ROS' decision.

Four years

The court process dragged on for almost four years, and finally heard the arguments from the counsel representing the plaintiff as well as the government early this year. The court subsequently reserved judgment to today.

Commenting on the postponement, Justine said: "I am a bit frustrated as it (the court process) has been going on for a long time. Snap members want to know (the outcome) one way or the other."

"Many people, especially our members throughout Sarawak, strongly feel that Snap should not be subjected to the fate (of being de-registered) and they want to see justice done (through the legal process)," added Justine, a former Ulu Rajang MP.

According to him, the court will inform its lawyers sometime next week on the new date for the delivery of the judgment.

In the recent state elections, Snap fielded 29 candidates, but only one was successful - Dr Johnicol Rayong Nyiga (Engkilili) who has since declared his support for BN and joined SPDP.