This weekend's state by-election in Ba'Kelalan, a largely Christian Orang Ulu-majority constituency in the remote northern region, has been dubbed by some as the 'Tambunan of Sarawak.'

This is among the many short messaging service (SMS) that have been circulating in recent days to describe the upcoming contest between Barisan Nasional's Nelson Balang and Independent native land rights lawyer Baru Bian.

Tambunan is a state constituency in Sabah where in the 1970s Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leader Joseph Pairin Kitingan stood and won against then chief minister Harris Salleh's ruling Berjaya Party)

This was the prelude for the defeat of the Berjaya state government and the formation of a opposition PBS government which ruled Sabah for 10 years.

In Ba'Kelalan, BN campaigners on the ground are up against considerable odds in trying to sell Balang, the former private secretary to the constituency's late incumbent Dr Judson Tagal, who perished in a helicopter crash on July 12.

After graduating from Institut Teknologi Mara with a Diploma in Busines Studies, Balang joined a finance company where he worked for 15 years before venturing into business. He then joined Tagal when the latter was appointed an assistant minister three years ago.

Both Balang and Baru are related and come from the same Lun Bawang community, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak who like the Kelabits and Muruts are largely followers of the Sigil Indang Borneo (SIB) church group.

'Not the best choice'

Baru is known not only as a Lun Bawang lawyer who has been defending native customary land rights but also as a SIB church elder.

Baru claimed he is offering himself as "the alternative candidate" because, according to him, the people are saying that "Balang is not the best choice."

To this, Balang replied: "They are entitled to their opinions".

The Independent's close ties with the church group that commands a strong following among the highland people in northern Sarawak is seen as another advantage.

Another concern for BN, is the notable absence of Tagal's family members at its political gatherings. The late politician's parents and brother, Mutang, who was a former parliamentarian himself, are said to be in Kuala Lumpur and will not return to vote.

Mutang is also rumoured to have given his tacit support to the Independent, who is also backed by other influential Lun Bawang personalities.

Tagal's widow, Linney, is also said to have indirectly expressed her family's support for the Independent candidate.

Malaysiakini learnt she had earlier written to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem, who is also Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) senior vice president, that she was not in favour of Balang to carry on her late husband's political work.

Although the by-election result, is not going to make any difference to the state BN government's standing in the state legislative assembly, a loss for the ruling party could have some serious implications and ramifications

Jabu's warning

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, who directs the BN election operations, has warned Baru about involving the church in politics.

He reportedly said if the churches were involved in 'negative politics' it would be difficult to rehabilitate their parishioners.

According to observer, this suggested the recognition of the influence and support Baru commands among the members of SIB in the highland areas.

However, a spokesperson for SIB told malaysiakini that it would be unwise and wrong for anyone to link the church group with politics.

"Our president has in fact sent out a circular before the elections to say the church is not involved in politics and that God has given them the wisdom to use their vote," he said.

'This is a normal thing for us to do at every elections, to send such a circular. The church does not tell them they must vote for so and so," he added.

Jabu also warned that the BN government would review development plans if the Ba'Kelalan constituency people rejected the ruling government.

"The government has plans to develop the region but if the people do not want all these, it would review all that and give them to others who welcome them with open arms," he said.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.