Sunday April 17, 2011
LAWAS: The people of the northern Sarawak highlands voted in a lawyer who has been championing their native land rights.
Baru Bian, the Sarawak PKR chairman, secured a majority of 473 votes against newcomer Willie Liau of Barisan Nasional to take the Ba’Kelalan seat in the Lun Bawang and Kelabit highlands.
He secured a total of 2,505 votes compared to Liau of SPDP who obtained 2,032 ballots.
Returning officer Ladin Atok announced the results at the Lawas District Council office at 7.35pm.
From lawyer to YB: Baru being surrounded by PKR leaders and members on nomination day.
A total of 4,585 or 65.09% of Ba’Kelalan’s 6,958 registered voters cast their ballots at 22 polling centres in the mountainous constituency, which is about 22 times the size of Penang.
Baru is widely respected among the highland’s Orang Ulu ethnic community for his legal work in representing them in their native customary rights issues mainly involving land matters.
“This is a victory for the people. They have spoken and they want change. This is the beginning of that change.
“This is a new beginning for Sarawak. The people want good governance, they want corruption to be wiped out and the state’s resources given back to them,” Baru said after the results were announced.
Asked whether his victory could be seen as a revolt of sorts among the Orang Ulu – comprising the Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan and Penan who make up more than 88% of Ba’Kelalan voters – Baru said: “You can say that.”
He also described his victory as remarkable due to limited resources available, including funds, while campaigning in far-flung villages in the 6,398sq km constituency.
Baru, a Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) church elder, was also thankful for the prayers offered for him by his constituents as well as many others from Sarawak and around the world.
Meanwhile, Liau said his defeat stemmed from the Opposition’s effective use of various issues, including the native customary rights land and the seizing and stamping of Bibles.
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