Its all systems go for SNAP, despite hiccups

The recent Federal Court decision to allow the Registrar of Societies (ROS) appeal won't deter Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) from moving forward.

KUCHING: The dispute over the registration of Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) will not affect the party’s move to rebrand itself.

The Federal Court had earlier allowed the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to appeal a Court of Appeal decision to set aside its order in 2002 to deregister Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) .

SNAP secretary general Frankie Nyumboi said the party was going ahead with its “rebranding and rebuilding exercises”.

“As far as the party is concerned it remains a properly registered political party. We are operating as usual,” he said .

Nyumboi was asked to comment on a report saying that the dispute over the registration of SNAP is not over yet now that the ROS has been given the nod by the Federal Court to appeal against a Court of Appeal decision which had restored the party’s registration.

“My comment and reaction to the news is simply to say that it is a normal process of litigation and ROS has a right to file for a leave of appeal to the Federal Court to appeal against the decision of the Appeal Court.

“As it is we will leave it to the Federal Court to decide and unless and until the court decides otherwise, we are operating as usual, “he said.

Last Tuesday, a three-member Federal Court unanimously allowed ROS’ application for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision to set aside the ROS’ order in 2002 to deregister SNAP.

The appeal concerned itself with the interpretation of Section 13 and Section 16 of the Societies Act which was not decided by the Federal Court.

The Federal Court would have to determine four legal questions in the appeal proceeding including a question on whether under Section 16 of the Societies Act 1966 read together with Section 13 (2) of the same act, ROS was required to act mechanically or has the discretion to cancel a society’s registration if conditions under Section 16 (1) were not complied with.

Another question of law was whether under Section 16 of the Societies Act 1966 read together with Section 13 of the same act, ROS is required to give reasons for its decision to cancel the registration of a society.

Glorious past

SNAP was deregistered by ROS on November 2002 following a leadership crisis which also led to the formation of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

SNAP then applied for stay of execution, and after eight years in the political doldrums, it was given a new lease of life by the Court of Appeal on June 23, 2010.

It held its first triennial general assembly (TGA) on January 15, 2012 during which Stanley Jugol was elected as the sixth president of the party.

Formed on April 10, 1962, SNAP which became the third party to be formed after Sarawak United People’s Party and Party Negara opened the way for the Dayaks to be fully involved in political activities in preparation for Sarawak’s independence.

Sarawak became independent when it joined Sabah (then North Borneo), Singapore and Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963. (Singapore withdrew from the Federation on August 8, 1965).

SNAP formed an alliance government with Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak, another Dayak-based party which was led by Temenggong Jugah Anak Barieng and Parti Panas led by Abang Openg  Abang Sapiee.

Stephen Kalong Ningkan, SNAP secretary-general was made the first Chief Minister of Sarawak, while Jugah became the Minister for Sarawak Affairs and Openg appointed the first governor.

At its peak SNAP had nine members of Parliament and 18 state assemblymen.

The deregistered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak and current Barisan Nasional allies – Parti Rakyat Sarawak and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party – were all the off-shoots of the party.