Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Malay leaders of only interested in "warming their seats" instead of fighting for the rights of the Malay community, a Keadilan candidate in the Sarawak state election claimed.

In a hard-hitting ceramah (talk) at Kampung Semeriang, Petra Jaya, in Kuching last night, Keadilan candidate for Samariang, Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Sanusi, singled out PBB deputy leader and Tourism Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg and PBB women's head and assistant minister Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi for not being prepared to raise Malay concerns with incumbent chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud for fear of jeopardising their own standings with him.

Zainal, who is Keadilan Sarawak secretary, also accused the two of allowing Taib to manipulate them at the expense of the Malay community.

He cited as an example, the kampung (village) land in the area which he said is in danger of being converted into 'mixed zone' that would eventually benefit non-bumiputras.

He added that PBB leaders like Abang Johari and Sharifah Mordiah had not done enough to allay the fears of Malay landowners, much less to stop those in power from carrying out their plans "because they are fearful of what will happen to their positions in the government if they were to oppose Taib".

Zainal also said that some three million hectares of native customary rights land throughout Sarawak are similarly under threat under the Taib administration. "The natives are being poorly compensated for compulsory land acquisitions," he added.

The Keadilan candidate for Samariang refuted Barisan Nasional's claim that Keadilan and PAS are responsible for Malay disunity.

"Disunity was already there before Keadilan came in, and the PBB Malay leaders should ask themselves why," Zainal said. "We're here to save the Malays."

'Peninsular M'sians not welcome'

Zainal also took Abang Johari to task for his claim that the people of Sarawak do not welcome Malaysians from the peninsula.

Abang Johari was alluding to the presence of a larger number of PAS and Keadilan leaders from the peninsula to help in the campaign of their local candidates.

"In that case, then I would expect Abang Johari to stay at home and not be at the airport when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrives on Monday, and the same goes for other leaders from Peninsular Malaysia because he does not welcome them."

He also accused PBB Malay leaders of desecrating suraus by turning them into places for making political speeches condemning opposition parties.

"In the first place it is dosa (a sin) to turn a place of worship for political purposes and worse still, to use a surau to attack others."

The contest in Samariang is a three-cornered fight involving ruling party PBB (Sharifah Mordiah), Keadilan (Zainal) and PAS (Ustaz Shokry).

According to independent sources, the Barisan Nasional's PBB candidate has a slight edge over Zainal.

But most political observers say it may still be too early to make a realistic assessment because it is only when candidates have reached the final lap in the campaign that a clearer picture will emerge.