By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 27: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Hulu Rajang has decided to contest the Murum seat in the upcoming 13th Sarawak Election (PRN13), with the decision to be conveyed to the party’s top leadership.
Branch chief Abun Sui Anyit said the decision was finalised at the branch’s 18th committee meeting last Saturday (Oct 24), while negotiations for the Belaga and Baleh seats were still ongoing.
“Keadilan Hulu Rajang will assess the progress of negotiations before making any official decisions, with candidates for the respective constituencies to be finalised in the near future for consideration by the party leadership,” he said in a statement posted on Keadilan P216 Hulu Rajang social media page yesterday (Oct 26).
Abun said the decision reflected the branch’s commitment to strengthening PKR’s presence in Hulu Rajang and ensuring that the voices of interior communities, particularly Indigenous peoples, were heard in Sarawak’s development and governance agenda.
He said protecting native customary rights (NCR) land remained a key priority, noting that some longhouse communities had yet to obtain land titles despite occupying, cultivating and inheriting their land for generations.
“PKR Hulu Rajang will continue to fight for a transparent, efficient and fair process, including the resolution of land disputes, respect for customary practices and the involvement of local communities in decisions affecting their rights,” he said.
He added that, should PKR candidates receive the people’s mandate, the party would bring land disputes to the Sarawak Legislative Assembly for debate and advocacy.
The branch was also concerned about disputes involving oil palm smallholders in Murum and plantation companies, particularly conflicts over land and the rights of local communities.
Abun said smallholders relied on their crops to support their families, finance their children’s education and meet daily expenses, but often faced an imbalance of power when dealing with large companies.
“We do not oppose investment or the development of the plantation industry. However, development must respect the law, the rights of local communities and the principles of justice,” he said.
He said the party would push for the protection of legitimate customary landowners and smallholders, fair agreements, reasonable compensation, access to legal assistance and prompt resolution of disputes.
Abun also called for more balanced development in Murum, Belaga and Baleh, including improved access to roads, clean water, electricity, telecommunications, education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
“Interior communities should not continue to lack basic amenities while the land and natural resources around them contribute to the state’s development,” he said, adding that development must improve living standards and ensure local communities received a fair share of the benefits.
As part of PKR, which forms the federal government alongside other political parties, the branch would continue raising the concerns of interior communities through political, legislative and administrative channels.
Abun said PKR Hulu Rajang remained open to cooperation with parties and movements sharing its aspirations of defending NCR land rights, protecting smallholders and promoting equitable development.
“For us, politics is a trust to serve the people, protect their legitimate rights and ensure that State development benefits everyone,” he added. — DayakDaily
