Well-known Orang Ulu lawyer Baru Bian, 50, has confirmed that he will contest again in Ba'kelalan against whoever is on the BN ticket.

Baru, from the Lun Bawang community, one of Sarawak's 27 ethnic groups , stood as an Independent in the September 19, 2004 by-election but lost to BN's Nelson Balang because of Iban votes from Ulu Limbang areas. He had the edge in Lun Bawang areas.

Baru polled 1391 votes against his opponent's 2843 votes in the by-election following the death of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary-general and assistant minster Dr Jakson Tagal in a helicopter crash.

Following last year's re-delienation to the Ba'kelalan state constituency, the number of voters has been reduced by about 1500 to 6500, with Lun Bawang making up the majority.

Baru will contest under the Malaysian Democratic Congress (MDC) symbol if the party is registered in time, otherwise he will stand as an Independent.

SPDP president and state minister William Mawan has announced the party will retain all its incumbents, including Nelson, in the coming state election, widely expected to be called in May. The state legislative assembly is expected to be dissolved in the third week of April.

With SIB church

This is much interest in Ba'kelalan, which is one of three Orang Ulu seats out of the 71 that will be contested in Sarawak's 9th state election. The other two are Telang Usan which is held by PBB's Lihan Jok and Belaga which is held by SPDP's Stanley Ajang. PRS is, however, claiming the Belaga seat as well as Ngemah from SPDP.

PRS maintains that it is the rightful successor to the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and therefore should be entitled to all state seats held by the former PBDS. It also says the state Barisan Nasional has agreed to this.

Baru Bian is closely identified on the ground in Limbang and Lawas, especially among his community, for his work as a lawyer defending the rights of native customary rights (NCR) landowners and for his family's connection to the evangelical mission known locally as SIB (Sidang Injil Borneo).

The NCR land is one of the 'hot' issues on the ground in Limbang and Lawas as in other parts of the state, and the opposition and many non-governmental organisations have been championing the rights of the native owners.