BIG DECISION: Gadget showing the opening lines of an SMS which Frankie sent to the writer of a news portal.
KUCHING: State PKR has been wary of SNAP’s political leanings all along and is thus not surprised that its top leadership had decided to be BN-friendly.
Its chief Baru Bian said: “All this while, we suspected that SNAP has connections with the BN. If it is true that SNAP has applied to go back to BN, its true colours have been exposed.
“For the last 32 years, I have seen the same leader (in BN) and there is no inclination or indication of a change in policies. So, there is no reason (for SNAP) to go back to BN.”
Baru was commenting on news that SNAP secretary-general Frankie Nyumboi had relinquished his post due to “major differences” with party president Stanley Jugol.
When contacted yesterday, Frankie confirmed that he had informed Stanley of his decision to relinquish his post as secretary-general.
He, however, pointed out that he was still vice-president since he was elected to the post.
“The secretary-general post is an appointed one, nominated by the president.”
Frankie said he decided to tender his resignation because he did not want to be part of a decision-making process “which tried to force decision on its members”.
“We have been in the opposition for 12 years and now the party wants to be with BN without taking into account the feelings and desires of our members at large,” he thundered, claiming that the majority of SNAP members did not agree with the decision.
Frankie further claimed that Jugol had yet to acknowledge his resignation as secretary-general.
Jugol, who took over the helm last year, could not be contacted yesterday for his comments.
It was learnt that SNAP’s national council – the highest decision-making body in the party – would meet on Jan 16 to decide on Frankie’s resignation.
SNAP, one of the oldest political parties in the state, was deregistered in Nov 2002 after an unresolved party leadership crisis that led to the formation of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) – which took over its position in BN.
Although SNAP’s deregistration was reversed by the Court of Appeal in June 2010, it was still outside BN although the party had claimed it wrote letters to BN to find out the status of its position in BN but did not receive any reply.
During the 2011 state election, SNAP contested in 26 seats on its own after pulling out from Pakatan Rakyat. All, except for its candidate in Pakan, lost their deposits in that election.
Many political pundits in the state viewed SNAP as no longer relevant although the state’s first chief minister came from the party.
In view of the latest political happenings, Baru, who is also Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman, reminded Sarawakians to be mindful of the political party they were going to support in the coming 13th general election.
He said he believed a few political parties would be formed before the election.
“So we ask voters in Sarawak to be more careful. They should base their support for a party on the party’s leadership, manifesto and policies.”