'Politics of belaban ' - this is the latest political phrase coined for the upcoming Sarawak elections. The English-Iban phrase means political infighting.

It joins a host of other colourful phrases conjured by local politicians to criticise, reprimand or promote themselves for the polls, expected next month.

As for 'politics of belaban ', the brains behind it is Dayak-based SPDP president William Mawan, who mentioned the phrase during a visit to an Iban longhouse over the weekend.

The state social development and urbanisation minister said this in reference to the Dayak (which also includes the Iban) over their incessant infighting to the detriment of their own economic progress.

The Iban are Sarawak's largest ethnic group and make up about 30 percent of the state's 2.2 million population.

'Politics of belaban ' will not bring the community any economic progress and benefits, said Mawan.

Accept new ways

Politically, the Iban are to be found in all parties - PBB, Supp, PRS and SPDP which form the state's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. They are also in Snap and the yet to be registered MDC.

PRS president and state land development minister Dr James Masing has objected to the registration of MDC on the ground that it will further split the community.

MDC pro tem president Nicholas Bawin - an Iban - has countered this by saying that the Iban leadership in the BN was unsatisfactory and hence the new party was formed.

Meanwhile, Mawan told his audience at the longhouse that it appeared the Iban had no faith in the government's good intentions.

This kind of thinking, he said, would only lead to the community being less involved in the mainstream development channeled by the government.

Urging them to discard the 'politics of belaban ', he said the community should accept new ways and ideas to bring economic progress and development.