MIRI: SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan found himself in a very tight situation now that the party’s supreme council (SC) members had succeeded in getting him to convene an emergency meeting.
The Star learnt that during the meeting, a motion would be tabled to once again get Mawan to kick out the four state assemblymen who were sacked by the party three years ago but who were reinstated last month.
It is learnt that notices of the meeting date had already been issued to Mawan and all SC members.
“Two days have been set aside for the meeting in Kuching. Mawan has been informed about the date and he has been asked to ensure that he attends," said a party source.
“His presence is paramount. During the meeting, a motion will be tabled by several senior SC members to discuss the move that Mawan took last month.
“Mawan will be asked to explain why he readmitted the four without first convening a party delegates conference, which he is required to do so under the party constitution, because the sacking of the four was a decision made by the delegates during an annual general meeting (AGM).
“Mawan will be told that he personally has no right or authority to reverse an AGM resolution without convening an emergency general meeting (EGM),” said the source.
Late last month and shortly before the Balingian by-election, Mawan approved the membership applications of the four assemblymen — Datuk Sylvester Entri (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Paulus Gumbang (Batu Danau) and Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru).
In 2011, the four and then MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe were sacked for gross indiscipline and for acting against the interest of Barisan Nasional.
Mawan had last month agreed to readmit the four following advice from Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Adenan, in his capacity as state Barisan chairman, had urged all disputing factions in SPDP to reconcile.
He had said that he wanted to resolve the internal conflicts of SPDP and also SUPP so that the state Barisan would be able to focus on preparations for the next state elections due in May 2016.
There is talk that Adenan could be preparing for snap polls.
Shortly after Mawan readmitted the four, his deputy Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing expressed dismay over the manner in which Mawan had gone about making the decision without even consulting him or the grassroots.
Several SPDP divisions criticised Mawan and issued statements that he had gone against the party’s 2011 AGM resolution to sack the four.
Some 30 divisions then issued a statement in Kuching calling for Mawan to resign, saying that he had contravened another AGM resolution in 2012 that had reinforced the sacking.
They said that the 2012 AGM resolution had stated that the party grassroots would not allow the four back into SPDP ever again.
“If Mawan agrees that there is a need to abide by the 2011 and 2012 AGM resolutions, he may have to reverse his stance to readmit the four into SPDP.
“There is a possibility that during the emergency SC meeting, the SC could table a motion to once again sack the four,” said the source.
Attempts to get SPDP secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang Rining for comments failed. It is believed that he is overseas.