A PKR candidate who was defeated in the recent Sarawak state election today defended his claim that the voters are largely unaware of the connection between their votes for the BN and the problematic Native Customary Rights land issues.

Joshua Jabeng (photo above), the PKR candidate for Kakus, told Malaysiakini that he felt the voters were unaware of the value of their votes.

“I don’t think they know what rights they are looking for. The people do not understand how to connect their land rights to their votes.

“Legal fees are more expensive than the money they received from BN, right? They do not see the connection,” Joshua said.

He had earlier received flak for his Facebook posting on how some Sarawakians will seek PKR’s free legal assistance to fight for their NCR land rights, but eventually vote for BN in exchange for money and projects.

“They (the voters) are very ‘smart’, aren’t they? They got both.

“Free legal assistance from PKR and ‘free money’ from BN. They must be very happy, right?” he snidely remarked.

Joshua also insisted that PKR and Pakatan Harapan have been working on the process of political education of the people to raise awareness on links between their rights and their votes.

“I don’t think the BN will do it. They want people to remain in the dark.

“People cannot connect between their land rights, human rights, basic rights and what is not right,” he said.

‘Disappointed with the voters’

Joshua also expressed his disappointment over alleged attempts to prevent voters from making an informed decision on polling day.

“Even the younger voters from rural areas, many of whom are aware of the issues, are not registered to vote. Either that or they did not come back to vote.

“They think it is the party’s responsibility to send them back to vote ( by giving free bus tickets, etc). They are not fully responsible for their own future,” Joshua claimed.

Kakus, located about 70km from Sibu town, is a state seat under the Selangau parliamentary constituency.

Kakus is a rural seat with 12,953 registered voters, of whom an overwhelming 91 percent are Dayak, with the Malay-Melanau and Chinese making up the remaining nine percent.

During the 13th general election, Joshua contested for Selangau and lost in a three-cornered fight against Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Entulu Belaun and Independent candidate Sng Chee Hua.

“I am more disappointed now than then in 2013 (when the parliamentary election was held in Sarawak).

“This (state) election was supposed to be the turning point for Pakatan Harapan. Instead, we fought each other and the rakyat have punished us badly,” he said in reference to the clash between PKR and DAP in six seats, all of which were won by the BN.

While PKR managed to retain three of its incumbents, the DAP’s representation was reduced to only seven assemblypersons from its previous 12.

‘Same situation in GE13’

Joshua also claimed that the alleged practice of money politics was nothing new in Sarawak.

“I don’t blame the BN because it is the same game it has been playing all the while. And the people need money.

“I blame the people because they could have taken the money and still voted for Pakatan. That way, they get money but also their voices will be heard in the state assembly. Now their voice has been reduced,” he pointed out.

Sarawak BN under Chief Minister Adenan Satem currently controls a strong majority in the state assembly, having won 72 out of the 82 seats.

BN won two seats uncontested and ruling party PBB with Adenan as president also made a clean sweep of all the 40 seats it contested.