SET TO BE ‘CHIEF MINISTER’?

BUDDY…. Baru Bian and writer in Lawas

By : AMDEE SIDIK

SARAWAK PKR Chief, Baru Bian for N71 Ba’ Kelalan sets differently compare with his three times past experience as an opposition candidate against BN in this coming Sarawak state General Election.

The mood from both of his supporters and non-supporters alike indicates the confident level in Bian’s side is extraordinary not only high. “God must be fair with him this time” said Libat Taie, his uncle.

The fourth time isn’t bad number and the Lun Bawang don’t believe that number, in fact talk of the town or even in the local media, Bian is the next Chief Minister of Sarawak should Opposition win to form the state government.

Like Kalabit that produced Idris Jala, Lun Bawang is another small minority ethnic group in Sarawak that has produced quite a number of scholars and professionals alike, other name surfaced in the past, as public figure was Mutang Tagal a Lun Bawang MP from the same area.

This perhaps one of the reasons why Bian was selected as PKR Chief in Sarawak while leaders from bigger groups are busy squabbling among themselves to become the chief. Selecting him from a small community would be a wise choice as it creates less jealousy.

'We’ll be going to Long Mani tonight, but Ba’ Kelalan may not be reachable’ he said. When I asked why? He then asked me about my transport. When he and others realized an only 4x4 Ninja and Toyota Hilux without modification, he gave me the scenario that going to Kampong Ba’ Kelalan is going to the muddiest road on the face of the earth, a three feet deep is usual at this time of the year he, said. The only guaranteed transport is from a group of 4x4 expert Discovery team that is the impression I got. If one is foreign in this area, they’d better ask for advice before proceeding.

The name of constituency is after this Kampong Ba’ Kelalan, which has about now 500 to 600 voters.

Bekalan constituency has about 7,000 registered voters. If only one looks at the map of Sarawak it is right at the top of northern end of the state. I was told without good reason that it supposed to be DUN N71 but was later swapped with DUN N70, Bukit Sapi, which is also in Lawas, thus Ba’ Kelalan became DUN N70.

Candidate for BN this time is Willie Liew also a Lun Bawang a nephew of Bian, which many said nothing is wrong in opposing the veteran but respect of today is to Baru Bain. He was surprised when he realized I spoke Lun Bawang dialect and later a family introduced us that we of the same origin. God gracious!