Ting expelled from SNAP

The deputy president of Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Ting Lian Kiew, who has been very critical of SNAP leadership, has been expelled from the party effective today.

Announcing the expulsion, SNAP president Edwin Dundang said the decision of the central executive committee (CEC) members was unanimous.

This was the first meeting of the CEC after it has been given a new lease of life by the Court of Appeal on June 23.

“The CEC today unanimously decided to expel from the party Ting, who has been suspended since April 6, 2009, after he has failed to give a satisfactory and acceptable reply to our show-cause letter.

“Kebing Wan, senior vice-president of the party is now acting deputy president until the next triennial general meeting,” Dundang said, adding that 12 of the CEC members were present.

Ting had been at loggerheads with Dundang and SNAP secretary- general Stanley Jugol since April last year when he campaigned for the BN-Parti Rakyat Sarawak candidate Malcolm Mussen in the Batang Ai by-election against the wishes of the party.

In the May 16 Sibu by-election, Ting also urged SNAP members to vote for Robert Lau Hui Yew, SUPP-BN candidate, while SNAP supported Pakatan Rakyat-DAP candidate Wong Ho Leng.

Ting’s expulsion will bring to an end a political career that has spanned for more than 35 years, starting with his election as a Bintulu MP with SNAP in 1974.

The four-term MP has been with the party through thick and thin.

Efforts to contact Ting for his comments were fruitless.

'SPDP should close shop'

Meanwhile, Dundang called on party members to reactivate their branches since the party had been given a new lease of life by the Court of Appeal as well as to prepare for the coming state election.

He also urged members who had left SNAP when it was in the “intensive care unit” for eight years to come back.

“You came in to join SNAP before because you love the party...

“We also invited well-wishers and sympathisers regardless of race and religion to come and join us and share our political struggles.

“SNAP is for everyone, especially those who share our political struggles which are based on the federal constitution and the 18- point agreement (which is the basis of agreement in forming the Federation of Malaysia).

“We are committed to safeguarding... the 18 points that have over the years been neglected, forgotten and partially implemented.

“What we want is for the federal constitution to be honoured and the18-point pact to be fulfilled,” he said, urging all Sarawakians to help the party fight for justice and fairness.

Dundang stressed that his party would always remain with Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak.

“Pakatan is the only way forward that SNAP wants to associate with, as we know that Pakatan is the only political alternative for the people of Sarawak and for Malaysians,” he said.

On calls by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president William Mawan for SNAP to close shop, Dundang said: “I have been in ‘ICU’ for eight years, and did he (Mawan) ever come and tell me to close shop and die?”

“But now that I have regained consciousness, who is he to tell me to close shop?” he asked.

“Instead of calling us to close shop, Mawan should come back and rejoin SNAP. SPDP should close shop for the sake of Sarawakians who are committed to honouring the federal constitution and the 18-point agreement,” Dundang said.

courtesy of FMT