Former Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) deputy information chief Tedewin Ngumbang wants those seeking to contest in the Layar constituency in the April 16 state election to pick among themselves the best better candidate to face Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang.

"We have to pick a common and credible opposition candidate so we can provide a formidable force against Jabu," he said today.

Tedewin, who resigned from PRS early this year, is one of the aspirants for the Layar seat, which Jabu has been holding since 1974.

The others are Joe Unggang of Sarawak National Party (Snap) and Stanny Embat of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

NONE Tedewin ( left ) belongs to a group of politically-conscious people who call themselves the Third Force in Sarawak politics.

Votes for the Opposition would be split, he said, if the three of them contested in Layar, and that there could be one or two independent candidates joining the fray as well.

"We cannot expect to get rid of Jabu if all of us are to contest against him because the votes meant for the opposition will be split," he explained, "so, let us make Jabu our common enemy."

Tedewin said all aspirants should jointly engage a non-governmental organisation to get feedback from the ground on the aspirants from the opposition.

"The feedback will be based on the popularity, credibility, qualifications and other factors of the aspirants.

"I will not mind if I am not the better candidate and I will support whoever is considered the most suitable," he said, adding that the other aspirants should support him if he was deemed a winnable candidate.

Tedewin said the Dayak community would be happy to see the government of three-decade-long Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud fall.

'Jabu a stumbling block to Dayak unity'

"He is the stumbling block for Dayak unity. Instead of uniting the Dayaks, he is disuniting them through his words and actions," he said, adding that there were many issues that could be raised against Jabu during the election campaign.

"Although Jabu has been a state minister since 1974, there is nothing much he can show to us about his achievements, even in his home town, Betong.

"You can see many government buildings in Betong town, but most of them are empty and surrounded by tall grass," he added, stating that the Agriculture Station building remained empty, while the Betong Growth Centre was a white elephant.

alfred jabu Tedewin also accused Jabu ( right ) of not helping the Malays living in Kampung Hilir, Kampung Tengah and Kampung Hulu in Betong, who do not have proper sources of income.

"Jabu should get the state government to alienate four to five acres of state land along the coastal roads, from Tanjung Asan to Beladin, to the landless Malays. He should also ask the government to build low-cost houses for them," he added.

Tedewin said Jabu should also be ashamed of himself for not helping to look for a site to relocate the Chung Hua School in Betong, which was built during the time of the White Rajah.

On the Third Force, he said it was eyeing five seats, including Layar, in the coming election.

The others are Bukit Saban, Katibas, Machan and Kedup, all of which are now held by the Pesaka wing of Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), of which Jabu is deputy president.

"The Dayak assemblypersons in PBB and other component parties of the BN dare not challenge Taib for leasing out native customary rights land to companies linked to Taib's family members," he charged.

"Therefore, these landowners have had to resort to court action to get back their lands."

There would be no need for landowners to go to court if Pakatan Rakyat wins the coming Sarawak election, he said.

"The PR government will amend the Sarawak Land Code to deal with the problems created by the Taib government," Tedewin added.