REDIRECTING COURSE…(Seated front row from right) Entrie, Tiong, Mawan, Peter Nansian ak Ngusie, 
Nyarok and Dr Tiki (top) with a section of the SNAP members attending the seminar (bottom).

BINTULU- All SNAP members have been urged to uphold the principle of multiracial party that had been nurtured since its establishment despite the change of leadership they had experienced recently.

SNAP treasurer-general, Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing said racial issue should not be given any room to take its root in the party after the members had already shown their solidarity despite coming from different racial backgrounds.

"We already experienced that when the party was led by a Chinese, members who are of various races had maintained their loyalty and support to the party. I believed we can do the same to support our new leader who comes from the Iban community," he said.

Speaking to welcome some 1,000 participants for a seminar on the Challenges and Prospect of SNAP at the Civic Centre here Sunday, Tiong had urged especially the Chinese members to adopt an open mind to give the new leader to show his capability. 

The members had unanimously elected Datuk William Mawan ak Ikom as the president of the party during an extraordinary general assembly held 11 August this year, to become the first Iban to lead the party after over 20 years.

As responsible SNAP members, he said it is natural that they wanted to ensure the party's survival and continuity, while growing from strength to strength and from leaps to leaps over the many good years in the future.

He described what the party had gone through was unthinkable with "the ups and downs, the cliffhanger and suspense, the resistance and obstacles, and finally, the climax are like an episode of a drama." 

"Our aspirations and our relentless dreams have now been realized and they have all come true. No good things come in package, as they come in all odd sizes and no good things come in smooth like silk, as there are hurdles and obstacles to cross," he added.

Three working papers were deliberated at the one-day seminar which started with a topic on "History of Sarawak National Party" by Dr Tiki Lafe, followed by "Current Crisis in SNAP" by Dr Judson Sakai Tagal and Encik Sylvester Entri ak Muran.

Encik Peter Nyarok ak Entrie and Encik Jacob Dungau Sagan presented a topic on "The possible effects of current crisis on SNAP and Barisan Nasional" while William Mawan would conclude the seminar by deliberating on the challenges and prospect of SNAP.