Representatives of several Iban-based non-governmental organisations are travelling to longhouses to garner support for a campaign to throw out three Iban leaders during the forthcoming state elections.

The three who stand accused of neglecting Iban interests are Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu deputy president (Pesaka/Dayak wing) Alfred Jabu, Social Development Minister and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party president William Mawan and Land Development Minister and Parti Rakyat Sarawak president Dr James Masing.

The campaign takes its name from theirs, being called Projek Ngelaboh ke JMM in Iban or Projek Menjatahuhkan JMM in Bahasa Malaysia.

Sarawak National Party (Snap) deputy president Justine Jinggut, who told malaysiakini this today, declined to identify the NGOs involved.

He would only say that they are concerned about such issues as the future of native customary rights (NCR) land and the worsening poverty rate among the Iban community in Sarawak.

"They say that ever since Jabu, Mawan and Masing became ministers, there have been more of such problems among the Iban," he said.

The Iban are part of the Dayak community which includes the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. The largest single ethnic group in Sarawak, they live mainly in rural areas.

According to the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, they are also the poorest non-Muslim indigenous group after the Penan.

The NGOs are also pointing out to longhouse inhabitants that the three leaders have failed to object to the state government's amendment of the Sarawak Land Code. If gazetted, this would have serious implications for the Dayak community's rights to NCR land.

It would also affect the community's identity, since it would end the use of the word 'Dayak' officially.

It is learnt that the state legislative assembly has passed the amendments, but that provisions relating to the Land Code have yet to be gazetted because of reservations expressed by state Barisan Nasional component parties.

'Respond to issues'

Chief Minister and state BN chairperson Abdul Taib Mahmud, addressing a Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) delegates conference over the weekend, criticised the opposition for engaging in a "rhetoric brand" of politics" because it has no substantial issues to raise.

Supp chairperson Dr George Chan, also a Deputy Chief Minister, called on party members to go on the offensive against the opposition.

To this, Justine said the opposition is merely highlighting the mistakes of the BN state government, and that it has yet to get a response to the "legitimate issues" raised.

"We've raised the issue of corruption and we want an answer from the state government. It is obvious that contracts are given to sons,daughters, brothers ,sisters and wives," he claimed.

"Why are they hiding the fact (that the rural people are still very poor after 42 years of Independence)?"

He welcomed the BN's attempt to take on the opposition, saying this should in the form of open debate and question-and-answer sessions to address the issues that have been raised.

One issue that the opposition is pursuing is the award of a tender worth RM300 million for the new state assembly building. This has been sub-contracted to a Kuala Lumpur-based company for RM230 million, allegedly giving the main contractor a clean profit of RM70 million.

"People want to know (about this). The chief minister should explain if he dares to do so," Justine said.

Commenting on Taib's confidence that the BN would make a clean sweep in the state elections, he said this would only happen if they do not resort to 'money politics' (vote-buying).

"I was in the BN before and I know what goes on," he added, warning that international observers are likely to monitor the exercise.

The state elections are not due until September next year, but widespread speculation is that it will be called early.