True to his words, Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has stated publicly that the state government is pulling back plans to turn Long Semado - the largest Lun Bawang village in Ba'kelalan - into a rural growth centre for voting against the Barisan Nasional in a recent by-election.

He made the announcement at an Orang Ulu Development Forum in Miri yesterday. The rural growth centre is a project that encompasses an integrated area encompassing housing, clinics, commercial and agricultural schemes.

Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and several Orang Ulu elected representatives, including the Bukit Mas and Baram members of parliament Henry Sum and Jacob Sagan and Telang Usan state assemblyperson Lihan Jok, were present at the forum.

Jabu, who was the BN election director of operations in the Sept 18 Ba'kelalan by-election, had earlier warned that if anyone should vote against the BN, the government would pull back development projects from their areas.

The Lun Bawang, one of Sarawak's smallest but largely Christian ethnic communities, form the majority of Ba'kelalan's 7,700-strong electorate.

More than half of the 56 percent Lun Bawang who turned up to vote supported Independent Baru Bian, a Lun Bawang lawyer born in Long Semado.

Baru has close ties with the community through church work and court cases of native customary rights disputes involving government agencies and large plantation companies.

Despite that, Baru ( photo, left ) lost to the BN candidate Nelson Balang Rining ( photo, right ) who polled 2,843 votes against his 1,391 votes.

In Long Semado, the Independent secured 197 votes against the BN's 127 votes. Baru also won in many other Lun Bawang-dominated areas.

Jabu had interpreted this to mean that the Lun Bawang were not supporting the BN, and hence keeping to his threat, decided to review the project in Long Semado.

Making excuses

But according to well-informed sources, Jabu, who is also rural development minister, is making excuses for the government's inability to implement the project as feasibility studies undertaken have shown that it is not economically feasible due to the remoteness of the area.

"The rural growth centre is not a new project," according to the sources. "The late Dr Judson Tagal (former Ba'kelalan assemblyperson) tried to do something about it. Studies show it is not feasible, and the government has decided to move it to other places."

Commenting on Jabu's announcement, Baru told malaysiakini that the people in Long Semado and Long Luping had no choice but to respect the government's decision.

Opposition Sarawak National Party (Snap) deputy president Justine Jinggut, meanwhile, said the threat only showed the arrogance of the state BN.

"Not everyone voted the Independent or opposition. What about those who voted for the BN (in Long Semado and Long Lupin)?'

He said it was the government's duty to bring development to every corner of the country, irrespective of how the people voted.

"Democracy is about the freedom of choice. It is about voters' rights. If the BN doesn't believe in elections, why not do away with elections altogether so the BN can stay in power in perpetuity?'

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.