Activists in Sarawak today launched a ‘People’s Manifesto’, which aims to put the quality of life of Sarawakians as the main agenda of the imminent state polls.

The state election must be called by June, but Chief Minister Adenan Satem yesterday hinted that the state legislative assembly will be dissolved within “days”.

Already endorsed by 15 Sarawak electoral, environmental and indigenous rights NGOs, the activists are now seeking endorsement from potential candidates.

In return, the candidates will be assured of support from the influential NGOs, it said in a statement.

“They are required to commit themselves to improving the quality of life and environment and strengthening democracy in the state.

“On its part, the group gives its commitment to urge all voters to support and vote for candidates that publicly commit themselves fully to this manifesto.

“The group will also urge Sarawak voters to reject all candidates who refuse to endorse the manifesto,” it said.

The three-page document available in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Iban and Chinese covers quality of life, the environment and democracy in the state.

It will also be promoted through public forums across Sarawak through a grassroots network of NGOs.

Among areas of concern are cost of living, dams, native customary rights land, human rights and democracy.

The NGOs endorsing the manifesto include Save Rivers, which worked with Baram natives to successfully campaign for the cancellation of the Baram Dam.

Besides mounting a blockade, villagers also filed a suit against the state over the two gazettes for the dam which affected about 20,000 natives.

The villagers’ lawyer was told this week that both the gazettes are now scrapped, giving the natives customary rights to their land.

BN won the parliamentary seat of Baram with a razor-thin majority of less than 200 votes against PKR, with the dam being a major bone of contention among locals during the 2013 general election.

The rural seat of Baram has two state seats – Telang Usan and Marudi.