About 500 Orang Ulu - mostly Kayan and Keynah from four communities in central Sarawak - today applied en masse to join opposition PKR.

Another 500 from the four communities - the Uma Apan, Junam, Sambop and Long Bangan - based along Bakun Road nearby to the controversial Bakun hydro-power project are due to do the same tomorrow.

Frankie Bedindang, Hulu Rajang PKR division chief and a former Kapit district head from the Sarawak National Party (Snap), told Malaysiakini the first batch of 500 submitted their membership forms to him at a ceremony in Bintulu today.

Paul Raja, a well-known Orang Ulu lawyer based in Bintulu, said the communities were unhappy their native customary rights (NCR) lands had been adversely affected by commercial planting activities and the development of the Bakun hydro-dam.

"They are hopeful that only under Pakatan Government the land that has been taken away from them will be returned," Raja told Malaysiakini .

He also said the natives had given up hope on the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and were now pinning their trust on the PKR and Pakatan Rakyat to protect them.

In July, land and survey authorities together with law enforcement agencies had sent heavy machinery to demolish farm houses belonging to the communities.

According to Raja, more than 10 farm houses were destroyed before lawyers acting for the aggrieved landowners managed to get a court order stopping the action.

He said hearing of the inter-parte injunction would be heard in the Bintulu High Court before judge Sangau Gunting on Wednesday.

A group of PKR lawyers, including Raja and Baru Bian, will argue the case on behalf of the Orang Ulu communities.

PRS to stay with BN for now

Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a BN component party led by state development minister Dr James Masing, has reportedly demanded recognition at both state and federal levels.

According to news reports, the PRS wanted its members to be given places in government-linked companies (GLCs).

james jemut masing Masing was also reported to have said his supreme council, which met yesterday, was insisting on at least one or two chairmanships in GLCS.

PRS members have not been given any posts, despite the party's contributions to the Barisan at both state and federal levels, Masing said.

The meeting also discussed current political developments, including reports that Pakatan Rakyat was going to form a new federal government on Sept 16 and swirling speculation that some of PRS's six MPs had already met with PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim to discuss switching camps.

However, Masing said for the moment PRS's loyalty was with the BN and that its six MPs would not leave for Pakatan.

He also held out an olive branch to political nemesis, Larry Sng Wei Shien, leader of the other faction in the PRS.

Masing said Sng and his supporters should take cognizance of the fact that he (Masing) is currently the president of PRS and that a party could not have two presidents.

Sng, a state assistant minister and son-in-law of Sarawak tycoon, Ting Pek Khiing, has not responded to Masing's comments so far.