PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian is not just savouring what he described as “an outcome that is outstanding for us” after winning the Selangau parliamentary seat by a majority of 486 votes.

He is also savouring a “political tsunami that has reached the heartland of Borneo”.

“Not only has Pakatan Harapan won in Selangau, but also in the rural and semi-rural seats of Saratok, Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading,” he said in a statement tonight.

PH’s success has proven several points, he said, the first being that it has proven its critics wrong.

“Many said that the Dayaks are the fixed deposit of Barisan Nasional and that they can be easily bought.

“Rural Sarawak is maturing in politics and the people have shown an impressive understanding of what is happening in the country,” Baru, who is also Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said.

“The people of Selangau remind me so much of the people of Ba’ Kelalan – they are able to understand and appreciate political development and displayed an incredible zest for change, to be part of the awakening that has been happening across the country, and to make a difference in the political landscape of Malaysia.”

Baru, who made native customary rights (NCR) land a key issue in in his campaign, said his win showed that NCR issues were “still pertinent”, despite what BN supporters believed.

“The people do not trust that the BN government will safeguard the ownership of their lands.”

He, however, said most importantly, that “this victory has proven James Masing and his like-minded parochial friends wrong in their assessment that the Ibans of Selangau will not accept a Lun Bawang from Ba’ Kelalan as their member of parliament”.

“The people of Selangau are Sarawakians first, Iban second.

“They have displayed superior political awareness and have chosen to elect a person without any consideration of his ethnicity or origins.

“As I have said, I am humbled by their trust in me, and their willingness to accept me into their fold.

“Most of all, I am grateful for their trust in me to represent them in Parliament, and I will do my best for them.” – May 9, 2018.