Of the 69 constituencies contested by the opposition, the Bukit Begunan constituency has become the main focus of the Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign.

The ruling front is fielding its two-term state assemblyperson Mong Dagang.

But what makes the contest so important?

It is because Daniel Tajem, the firebrand of Dayak politics, is trying to make a comeback to his old seat, which he was forced to give up in the 1996 state election.

It appears that Sarawak BN is determined to ensure Tajem's defeat in the May 20 polls. To achieve this, it has enlisted top guns from Kuala Lumpur and Sabah to campaign against him.

Leading the campaign is Deputy Prime Minister and BN deputy chief Najib Abdul Razak. He has been scheduled to address a huge crowd at Lachau Bazaar in the constituency on May 19.

Umno Youth Chief and Education Minister Hishammudin Hussein and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Maximus Ongkili are also scheduled to campaign for Mong.

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is expected to address voters at Gua on May 16 while the state's Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management Awang Tengah Ali Hassan has his own programme to help Mong.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has also been very vocal against Tajem.

Land issue

Tajem - the adviser of the newly formed opposition coalition Barisan Bersatu Sarawak (Sarawak United Front) as well as the adviser of the yet to be registered Malaysian Dayak Congress - has accused the state government of taking away the native customary rights land from the natives.

He claimed that the state government, after declaring a certain NCR land as state land, issued a provisional lease to companies and relatives of those in power to develop into oil palm estates.

"I have proof of this abuse of power," he claimed, adding that in the Bukit Begunan constituency there were five plantations, namely Busaria Jaya Plantation Sdn Bhd with 6,070 ha, Tabaruk Abadi Sdn Bhd with 5,000 ha, Daya Khas Sdn Bhd, 5,000 ha, Durafarm Sdn Bhd, 5,000 ha and Trans Kenyalang Sdn Bhd, 5,000 ha.

The names of politicians, their wives and their children were listed as shareholders, he alleged.

"If I am elected, I will speak on the NCR land and the amendments to the Land Code which are aimed at disempowering the natives," he said.

Tajem said since he left the state assembly more than 10 years ago, the state government has amended the state land code several times and the most damaging amendment was in May 2000 when the word 'acquired' was substituted with the word 'created'.

Before the amendments, the natives could acquire NCR land through various means including the clearing of virgin jungles. Thus the rights over such land have been established.

Silent reps

Following the amendments to the land code, the customary rights over such land have been abolished.

During the presentation of the Bill, none of the 26 Dayak elected representatives dared to speak against the Bill, although they knew the amendments were harmful to the interests of the natives.

"This is what makes Tajem very mad," said an aide.

Tajem has also been highlighting Awang Tengah's statement at last year's state assembly sitting that all land not surveyed or any land not issued with a land title including land under NCR claim "is government land".

Tajem has promised voters that if he is elected he will raise havoc in the state assembly. This is what has got Sarawak BN worried.

Map of Sarawak state seats

Joseph Tawie is the former Press Liaison Officer of the Police in Sarawak. He is now the protem Information Chief of the Malaysian Dayak Congress.