View source for Baru Bian

{{short description|Malaysian politician and lawyer}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Malay titles#Honorary styles|Yang Berhormat]] [[Malay titles#Other titles|Tuan]]
| name                = Baru Bian
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLA]]
| image               = 
| caption             = Keynote Address by YB Baru Bian
| image_size          =

| office           = [[Minister of Works (Malaysia)|Minister of Works]]
| term_start       = 2 July 2018
| term_end         = 24 February 2020
| monarch          = [[Muhammad V of Kelantan|Muhammad V]] <br> {{small|(2018–2019)}} <br> [[Abdullah of Pahang|Abdullah]] <br> {{small|(2019–2020)}}
| primeminister    = [[Mahathir Mohamad]]
| deputy           = [[Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir]]
| predecessor      = [[Fadillah Yusof]]
| successor        = Fadillah Yusof
| constituency     = [[Selangau (federal constituency)|Selangau]]

| office1 = Vice President of the [[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|Progressive Democratic Party]]
| alongside1 = [[Alexander Asing Sadai]] {{small|(Vice President I)}} & <br> [[Friday Belik]] {{small|(Vice President II)}} & <br> [[Roland Ting Hua Sing]] {{small|(Vice President III)}} & <br> [[Johnical Rayong Ngipa]]
| term_start1 = 6 April 2024
| term_end1 =
| president1 = [[Tiong King Sing]]

| office2          = State Chairman of the <br> [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|People's Justice Party]] of <br> [[Sarawak]]
| term_start2      = 15 December 2009
| term_end2        = 24 February 2020
| president2       = [[Wan Azizah Wan Ismail]] <br> {{small|(2009–2018)}} <br> [[Anwar Ibrahim]] <br> {{small|(2018–2020)}}
| deputy2          = Wan Zainal Wan Sanusi
| predecessor2     = Anwar Ibrahim <br> {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor2       = [[Larry Sng Wei Shien]]

| constituency_MP3 = [[Selangau (federal constituency)|Selangau]]
| parliament3      = Malaysian
| term_start3      = 9 May 2018
| term_end3        = 19 November 2022
| predecessor3     = [[Joseph Entulu Belaun]] <br> ([[Barisan Nasional|BN]]–[[Parti Rakyat Sarawak|PRS]])
| successor3       = [[Edwin Banta]] <br> ([[Gabungan Parti Sarawak|GPS]]–PRS)
| majority3        = 486 ([[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]])

| constituency_AM4 = [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]]
| assembly4        = Sarawak State Legislative
| term_start4      = 16 April 2011
| term_end4        =
| predecessor4     = [[Nelson Balang Rining]] <br> (BN–[[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|SPDP]])
| successor4       =
| majority4        = 473 ([[2011 Sarawak state election|2011]]) <br> 538 ([[2016 Sarawak state election|2016]]) <br> 680 ([[2021 Sarawak state election|2021]])

| office7          = Faction represented in [[Dewan Rakyat]]
| subterm7         = 2018–2020
| suboffice7       = [[Pakatan Harapan]] ([[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|PKR]])
| subterm8         = 2020
| suboffice8       = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| subterm9         = 2020–2022
| suboffice9       = [[Parti Sarawak Bersatu]]

| office11         = Faction represented in [[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]]
| subterm11        = 2011–2018
| suboffice11      = [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|People's Justice Party]]
| subterm12        = 2018–2020
| suboffice12      = [[Pakatan Harapan]]
| subterm13        = 2020
| suboffice13      = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| subterm14        = 2020–2024
| suboffice14      = [[Parti Sarawak Bersatu]]
| subterm15        = 2024–
| suboffice15      = [[Gabungan Parti Sarawak]]

| birth_name = Baru Bian
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1958|09|09|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Lawas]], [[Crown Colony of Sarawak]] {{small|(now [[Sarawak]], [[Malaysia]]}}
| residence           = 
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| nationality         = {{MAS}}
| citizenship         = [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]]
| party               = [[Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak]] (PBDS) <br> {{small|(1987–2004)}} <br> [[Malaysian Dayak Congress]] (MDC) <br> {{small|(2005)}} <br> [[Sarawak National Party]] (SNAP) <br> {{small|(2006–2008)}} <br> [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|People's Justice Party]] (PKR) <br> {{small|(2008–2020)}} <br> [[Parti Sarawak Bersatu]] (PSB) <br> {{small|(2020–2024)}} <br> [[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|Progressive Democratic Party]] (PDP) <br> {{small|(since 2024)}}
| otherparty          = [[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR) <br> {{small|(2008–2015)}} <br> [[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH) <br> {{small|(2015–2020)}} <br> [[Gabungan Parti Sarawak]] (GPS) <br> {{small|(since 2024)}}
| alma_mater          = [[Universiti Teknologi MARA]] <br> [[University of Melbourne]] <br> Malaysian Evangelical Theological Seminary (METS)
| spouse              = Yu Ching Sieu
| children            = 
| occupation          = [[Politician]]
| profession          = [[Lawyer]]
| relations           = 
| website             = {{URL|http://www.barubian.net/}}
| footnotes           = {{facebook|barubian}}<br>{{pom|3739}}|
}}

'''Baru Bian''' (born 9 September 1958) is a [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]] [[politician]] and [[lawyer]] who has served as Member of the [[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]] since April 2011. He served as the [[Minister of Works (Malaysia)|Minister of Works]] in the [[Pakatan Harapan]] (PH) administration under former Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]] from July 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020 and the [[Dewan Rakyat|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Selangau (federal constituency)|Selangau]] from May 2018 to November 2022. He is a member of the [[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|Progressive Democratic Party]] (PDP), a component party of the [[Gabungan Parti Sarawak]] (GPS) coalition and was a member of the [[Parti Sarawak Bersatu]] (PSB),<ref name=psb>{{cite news|url=http://english.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/ex-pkr-sarawak-chief-baru-bian-joins-psb-244919|title=Ex-PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian joins PSB|publisher=[[Astro Awani]]|date=30 May 2020|access-date= 30 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/05/30/its-official-baru-see-join-psb-with-over-20-former-pkr-leaders/|title=It's official – Baru, See join PSB with over 20 former PKR leaders|publisher=[[Borneo Post]]|date=30 May 2020|access-date= 30 May 2020}}</ref> [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|People's Justice Party]] (PKR), a component party of the PH and formerly [[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR) coalitions.<ref name=pkr>{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/how-pkr-won-then-lost-sarawak-the-star-columnist|title=How PKR won, then lost Sarawak: The Star columnist|author=Philip Golingai|work=The Asian Voice|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=16 March 2021|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=info>{{cite news|url=https://sarawakvoice.com/2018/12/16/baru-bian-kekal-pengerusi-pkr-sarawak/|title=Baru Bian kekal Pengerusi PKR Sarawak|publisher=Sarawak Voice|date=16 December 2018|access-date=30 May 2020|language=ms|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114074215/https://sarawakvoice.com/2018/12/16/baru-bian-kekal-pengerusi-pkr-sarawak/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://dayakdaily.com/pkr-sarawak-baru-chose-to-leave-party-was-not-expelled/|title=PKR Sarawak: Baru chose to leave party was not expelled |author=|publisher=Dayak Daily|date=10 June 2020 |access-date= 30 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/03/11/im-independent-baru-clarifies-after-ex-pkr-mps-join-bersatu|title=I'm independent, Baru clarifies after ex-PKR MPs join Bersatu|author=Nigel Edgar|publisher=[[The Borneo Post]]|date= 11 March 2020|access-date=30 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://sarawakvoice.com/2020/05/31/im-an-intelligent-katak-says-baru/|title=I'm an intelligent katak, says Baru |author= Nazmi Suhaimi |publisher=Sarawak Voice|date=31 May 2020 |access-date= 31 May 2020}}</ref> He has also served as the Vice President of PDP since April 2024. He also served as the State Chairman of PKR of [[Sarawak]] from December 2009 to his resignation from the party in February 2020. He became the first ever federal minister of the [[Lun Bawang]] ethnicity in the [[Malaysian history]].<ref name="history">{{cite news|url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/07/03/baru-bian-creates-history |title=Baru Bian creates history |access-date=20 November 2018 |publisher=[[The Borneo Post]]|date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704025517/http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/07/03/baru-bian-creates-history/ |archive-date=4 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=minister>{{cite news |last1=Andrew |first1=Sia |title=Baru Bian, the first Lun Bawang minister, fought hard for Sarawak natives' land rights |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/02/baru-bian-first-lun-bawang-minister/ |access-date=26 November 2018 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=2 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703133337/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/02/baru-bian-first-lun-bawang-minister/ |archive-date=3 July 2018}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Baru Bian was born in an impoverished [[Lun Bawang]] family on 9 September 1958,<ref name=info/> to Bian Labo (father) and Takong Taie (mother) in [[Long Lopeng]], [[Sarawak]].{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=iii, iv}}The ancestry of Baru Bian can be traced back to Berunut area, near the Adang river, where the latter is the tributary of the [[Limbang River]].{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=38}} All the genuine Lun Bawang people should be able to trace their ancestry to one single common ancestor named Terur Aco. Baru Bian and his six siblings are the twentieth generation since the first Lun Bawang.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=40}} He is the third child and the eldest son in the family. Both Baru's parents were pastors.<ref name="Fighter"/> Baru's father, Bian Labo was trained at [[Lawas]] bible school which was under the [[Sidang Injil Borneo]] (SIB) church.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=10}} Baru's family moved from one village to another because his father was posted to different villages every year.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=10}} Brought up in a Christian family since childhood, Baru was taught of discipline and doing the right things by his father.<ref name="Fighter"/>

By the age of seven or eight, he followed his father into the jungle to learn hunting and fishing. As he became older, he would learn jungle survival skills, geography and boundary of the ancestral lands, and memorise twenty generations of ancestral names.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=14}} He attended Primary 1 to 2 at Long Lellang (1966 to 1967), Primary 3 to 4 at Long Semado (1968-1969), and passed common entrance examination at Long Napir (1970 to 1971).<ref name=info/><ref name="Baru Bian CV">{{cite web |last1=Baru |first1=Bian |title=Curriculum vitae |url=http://www.barubian.net/p/curriculum-vitae.html |publisher=barubian.net |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218132510/http://www.barubian.net/p/curriculum-vitae.html |archive-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> After that, he attended Limbang secondary school until Form 5.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=12}} At one point, he would need to wear modified school blouse left by her sister for the secondary school.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=13}} He need to hike in the jungles for three days before reaching [[Lawas]] and another day journey to reach [[Limbang]].<ref name="Fighter">{{cite news |last1=Sharon |first1=Ling|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/29/a-fighter-with-big-dreams-from-the-courts-to-the-august-house-this-native-land-rights-lawyer-turned/|title=A fighter with big dreams|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=29 July 2018|access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729030515/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/29/a-fighter-with-big-dreams-from-the-courts-to-the-august-house-this-native-land-rights-lawyer-turned/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> His experiences during journeys through the jungles and mountain streams led him to understand the value of [[Aboriginal title#Malaysia|native customary rights]] (NCR) for ''pemakai menoa'' (territorial domain) and ''pulau galau'' (communal forest reserve) and also the environmental protection.<ref name="Fighter"/> During the year-end school holidays in 1980, Baru Bian interviewed his father and his uncle Lasong Labo about the history of their family's NCR land. He drew the boundaries of their NCR land and signed by the village headman. The map later proved to be useful in fighting against six logging companies encroaching their lands in Berunut from 1986 to 1990s.{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=15, 105-116}}

He attended Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang for Form 6 at Tanjong Lobang, [[Miri]], Sarawak. He got a satisfactory result in [[GCE Ordinary Level]] examination.{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=12, 24}} After completing his secondary education, he served as a temporary teacher at SMK Medamit, [[Limbang]] from 1979 to 1981. He taught geography, History, Physical Education and General Science there.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=25}}<ref name="history"/> His passion towards native land rights had led him pursued his tertiary education at Institut Teknology Mara (ITM), now [[Universiti Teknologi MARA]] (UiTM), [[Shah Alam]], [[Selangor]] in Diploma in Law (DIL).<ref name="Fighter"/> His uncle, Libat Langub, who was a former student at ITM, encouraged him to study law there.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=25}} He went to Melbourne to further his studies on Law in 1985.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=31}} He applied for scholarship from ITM but was denied. Therefore, he decided to take a study loan instead.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=28}} He subsequently obtained [[Bachelor of Laws|Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)]] from the [[University of Melbourne]], [[Australia]] in 1986.<ref name=info/><ref name="history"/> After his graduation in Australia, Baru decided to come back to Malaysia to serve the needy instead of applying for permanent residency in Australia.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=145}}

==Activism and legal career==
Upon graduation, he became a trainee in a law firm named Rashid & Lee in [[Kuala Lumpur]] for six months before the law firm stopped paying allowances due to financial difficulties. He then continued his training at Eddy Chung & Co and was employed there until he returned to Kuching in 1988.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=146}} Baru was subsequently admitted to the [[Malaysian Bar|Malayan Bar]] as a lawyer and [[solicitor]].<ref name="history"/> By 1990, Baru became a partner in the firm of Messrs Anthony Ting, Baru Bian & Co. in Kuching, Sarawak.<ref name="Baru Bian CV"/> Baru taught himself about native customary rights (NCR) law through Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), an NGO led by [[Harrison Ngau Laing]], an environmentalist. Baru would later become a legal advisor for SAM.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=147}} In the same year, he represented SAM to [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]] to protest against the [[International Tropical Timber Organization]] (ITTO) for not including the issues of native customary rights in their report. It was also at this time that Baru Bian met the Swiss activist, [[Bruno Manser]].{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=147}} Bruno would later help Baru to raise RM 30,000 from overseas supporters to fund Baru's [[1991 Sarawak state election|1991 election]] endeavour.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=148}} However, Malaysian embassy officials would later take a photo of Baru Bian and Bruno Manser in Yokohama and used the photo to depict Baru as a traitor to Malaysian interests in 1991 election.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=151}}

Baru filed his first NCR case in 1991 on behalf of his extended family whose ancestral lands in Berunut was encroached by logging companies. However, the case was pending in court after two years. Therefore, Baru and his family members took part in timber blockades which successfully led Samling, a logging company to compensate them RM 100,000. As part of the agreement, Baru withdrew the court case.{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=105-116}}<ref name="Fighter"/> He set up Messrs Baru Bian Advocates and Solicitors in [[Kuching]] in 1992.<ref name="history"/> Baru would later found a legal partner named See Chee How. See is a human rights activist and a lawyer from Kuching. Together, they were involved in numerous native land rights cases.<ref name="Money Logging"/> Baru also took up cases related to wrongful arrests or jailed without [[Remand (detention)|remand]].{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=119-120}} In 2001, Baru Bian won the ''Rumah Nor Nyawai'' case in Sarawak High Court. This was the first time in the history of Malaysian courts that NCR rights was upheld.<ref name="Money Logging">{{cite book |last1=Lukas |first1=Straumann |title=Money Logging On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia |date=2014 |publisher=[[Bergli Books]] |location=Basel, Switzerland |isbn=978-3-905252-72-9 |pages=205 |edition=First |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-F8aCgAAQBAJ&q=Rumah+Nor+case+Baru+Bian&pg=PT205 |access-date=2 November 2018 |language=en |chapter= Chapter 6 - Bruno Manser's legacy}}</ref> In 2007, the [[Federal Court of Malaysia]] upheld the decision on Rumah Nor Nyawai case that ''pemakai menua'' and ''pulau galau'', in addition to ''temuda'' (cultivated land before 1 January 1958) are included in the definition of NCR land.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=128}} In March 2011, Baru successfully led the legal defence team consisting of Civil Rights Lawyers See Chee How & Desmond Kho, resulting in the acquittal of Numpang Suntai who was accused of burning ten items of machinery in a logging camp at Sebangan, [[Simunjan District]] for encroaching the latter's ancestral land.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=120}} By 2013, Baru Bian's law firm had processed more than 200 native land rights cases in court.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=131}}

Baru's strong belief in the freedom of religion guaranteed by the [[Constitution of Malaysia]] had prompted him to take up cases for those who wished to leave the religion of Islam.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baru |first1=Bian |title=Baru Bian: Court of Appeal Decision a Letdown for converts out of Islam |url=https://www.borneotoday.net/baru-bian-court-of-appeal-decision-a-letdown-for-converts-out-of-islam/ |access-date=23 December 2018 |agency=Press statement |publisher=Borneo Today |date=12 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117020750/https://www.borneotoday.net/baru-bian-court-of-appeal-decision-a-letdown-for-converts-out-of-islam/ |archive-date=17 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wanita Melayu Diwakili Peguam Baru Bian Gagal Dalam Rayuan Kes Murtad |trans-title=A Malay lady who was represented by lawyer Baru Bian lost the appeal in an apostasy case |url=https://www.menara.my/wanita-melayu-diwakili-peguam-baru-bian-gagal-dalam-rayuan-kes-murtad/ |publisher=menara.my |access-date=23 December 2018 |language=ms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223124445/https://www.menara.my/wanita-melayu-diwakili-peguam-baru-bian-gagal-dalam-rayuan-kes-murtad/ |archive-date=23 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Law is silent on Muslim converts wishing to leave Islam – Baru |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/02/11/law-is-silent-on-muslim-converts-wishing-to-leave-islam-baru/ |access-date=23 December 2018 |publisher=[[The Borneo Post]] |date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330175031/http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/02/11/law-is-silent-on-muslim-converts-wishing-to-leave-islam-baru/ |archive-date=30 March 2018}}</ref> His representations in the [[apostasy]] cases has drawn criticisms from [[Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party]] (PAS), accusing him of contempt against the Islamic religion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baru Bian blasts death threats, insults over apostasy case |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/02/28/baru-bian-blasts-death-threats-insults-over-apostasy-case/ |access-date=23 December 2018 |publisher=Free Malaysia Today |date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Baru Bian hina umat Islam Sarawak'|trans-title=Baru Bian insulted Islam in Sarawak |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/413661 |access-date=23 December 2018 |publisher=[[Malaysiakini]]|date=27 February 2018|language=ms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223132425/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/413661 |archive-date=23 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kamarul |first1=Zaman Yusoff |title=Baru Bian juara Kristianisasi Sarawak|trans-title=Baru Bian is the champion of christianisation in Sarawak |url=http://www.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita/15-tanah-air/5501-baru-bian-juara-kristianisasi-sarawak |access-date=23 December 2018 |publisher=[[Harakah Daily]] |date=28 February 2018|language=ms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403152628/http://www.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita/15-tanah-air/5501-baru-bian-juara-kristianisasi-sarawak |archive-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also been fighting regarding the rights by Christians of Sabah and Sarawak to carry on using the word Allah in the general practise of their Christian faith for generations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/03/18/allah-issue-still-unsettled-no-thanks-to-muhyiddin-says-baru-bian/ |title='Allah' issue still unsettled, no thanks to Muhyiddin, says Baru Bian|author=|publisher=[[Free Malaysia Today]] |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/03/11/high-court-decision-on-039allah039-use-affirms-religious-freedom-rights-under-constitution-says-baru-bian |title=High Court decision on 'Allah' use affirms religious freedom, rights under Constitution, says Baru Bian|author=Sharon Ling |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |date=11 March 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>

Baru has been a popularly known activist and lawyer who had handled many ancestral lands as well as native customary rights cases and has strong support from churches notably SIB and [[Dayak people|Dayak]] community. As an [[Orang Ulu]] of Lun Bawang descent, Baru is seen as a hero and fighter especially within the interior Sarawak's Dayak community for his selfless contributions.<ref name=pkr/><ref name="Fighter"/> Later as politician and even minister, Baru continue to champion better opportunities and provision of education and healthcare facilities in Sarawak and attempts to use the Sarawak Wealth Fund to ensure better development and wealth distribution among all Sarawakians.<ref name=minister/><ref name=Selangau>{{cite news |title=NCR issues prompted me to stand in Selangau – Baru |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/04/29/ncr-issues-prompted-me-to-stand-in-selangau-baru/ |access-date=26 November 2018 |publisher=[[The Borneo Post]] |date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430002606/http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/04/29/ncr-issues-prompted-me-to-stand-in-selangau-baru/ |archive-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

==Political career==
In 1987, Baru had joined [[Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak]] (PBDS) at the beginning because the party was advocating NCR rights in Sarawak.<ref name="Fighter"/> In 1989, Baru was elected as PBDS Youth Executive Council member.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=171}} Baru was also a supreme council member of PBDS.<ref name="history"/> He first contested against Sarawak [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN) governing coalition at [[Lawas (state constituency)|Lawas]] in 1991 but lost. After that, PBDS started negotiating to rejoin Sarawak BN in 1992 and was subsequently admitted into BN in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Oorjitham|first1=Santha|title=Dayak welfare was his priority|url=http://www2.nst.com.my/nation/general/dayak-welfare-was-his-priority-1.355519|access-date=17 May 2015|publisher=[[New Straits Times]]|date=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920085822/http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/dayak-welfare-was-his-priority-1.355519|archive-date=20 September 2013 }}</ref> One of the condition for PBDS to rejoin BN was to stop raising the NCR issues within the state government. However, Baru Bian decided to continue his pursue towards NCR rights cases in court.<ref name="Fighter"/> In September 2004, Baru decided to quit PBDS and went to contest against BN in [[2004 Ba'kelalan by-election|Ba'kelalan by-election]] as an [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] but lost again. The already in leadership crisis PBDS was then deregister on 5 October 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2004/10/24/end-of-the-road-for-pbds|title=End of the road for PBDS|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|date=|access-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> Baru believed in continuing to uphold the NCR lands among the natives and the need to change the Sarawak state government in order to solve the NCR problems permanently. Baru later tried to join newly formed [[Malaysian Dayak Congress]] (MDC) to succeed PBDS but its registration never get to be approved for [[2006 Sarawak state election]],{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=184}} Baru chose to join [[Sarawak National Party]] (SNAP) instead to contest again the [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]] under SNAP ticket but had lost for the third time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/05/694374/saya-katak-yang-baik-baru-bian |title='Saya katak yang baik' - Baru Bian |author= Mohd Roji Kawi |publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=31 May 2020 |access-date= 31 May 2020}}</ref> He filed an election petition to [[Miri, Malaysia|Miri]] High Court on [[Barisan Nasional]] (BN)'s vote buying activities in Ba'kelalan but the petition was struck out on technicality grounds.{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=192-193}} He then decided to retire from politics temporary because he already lost three times in elections.<ref name="Fighter"/>

Following the [[2008 Malaysian general election]] (GE12) which see the ruling coalition, BN's lose its two-thirds majority in the [[Dewan Rakyat|parliament]] and five states to the opposition since [[Independence Day (Malaysia)|Malaysia's Independence]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/japanese-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/2008-general-elections-in-malaysia-democracy-at-work/03EC9FC548FCFA286D7E62CC32B69052|title=2008 General Elections in Malaysia: Democracy at Work |author=Abdul Rashid Moten|journal=Japanese Journal of Political Science |date=1 April 2009|volume=10 |pages=21–42 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/S1468109908003356 |s2cid=154736655 |access-date=15 April 2016}}</ref> Baru decided to rejoin politics again to strengthen the two-party system and joined [[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|People's Justice Party]] (PKR) in April 2008, the same time of formation of new [[Pakatan Rakyat]], as a reforms-hopeful informal coalition.<ref name=pkr/><ref name="Fighter"/> In 2009, Baru was appointed as the chairman of PKR Sarawak.<ref name="Fighter"/> He then proceed to win the Ba'kelalan state constituency under PKR banner for the first time during [[2011 Sarawak state election]], having defeated the candidate for the BN coalition, Willie Liau, who is also his nephew, by a narrow 473-vote majority.<ref>{{cite news |title=I'm still a winnable candidate in Ba' Kelalan — Balang |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/07/22/im-still-a-winnable-candidate-in-ba-kelalan-balang/ |access-date=1 December 2018 |date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714172227/http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/07/22/im-still-a-winnable-candidate-in-ba-kelalan-balang/ |archive-date=14 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=William |first1=Mangor |title=Baru Bian: Sarawakians want to see changes |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/07/23/baru-bian-sarawakians-want-to-see-changes/ |access-date=1 December 2018 |publisher=Free Malaysia Today |date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065656/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/07/23/baru-bian-sarawakians-want-to-see-changes/ |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

In [[2013 Malaysian general election]] (GE13), Baru Bian decided to contest in [[Limbang (federal constituency)|Limbang]] parliamentary seat as PKR candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baru confirms standing in Limbang |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/09/baru-confirms-standing-in-limbang/ |access-date=23 December 2018 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=9 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223223450/http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/09/baru-confirms-standing-in-limbang/ |archive-date=23 December 2018}}</ref> However, he was defeated by a huge margin against BN.<ref name=PKRsrwk>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post/20130507/281930245490336|title=Baru admits stunned by a huge margin|publisher=[[The Borneo Post]]|date=7 March 2013|access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref> In 2015, Sarawak chief minister [[Adenan Satem]] invited Baru to join BN, however, he declined the offer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Philip |first1=Kiew |title=Join BN, Baru Bian |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/31/join-bn-baru-bian/ |access-date=26 January 2019 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=31 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618235255/http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/31/join-bn-baru-bian/ |archive-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> Baru retained the seat in the [[2016 Sarawak state election]] as PKR candidate with an increased majority of 538 votes, also against Willie.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/144278/sarawak-polls-baru-bian-retains-bakelalan-seat|title=Sarawak Polls: Baru Bian retains Ba'kelalan seat |access-date=26 November 2018 |agency=New Straits Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508124142/https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/144278/sarawak-polls-baru-bian-retains-bakelalan-seat |archive-date=8 May 2016}}</ref>

During the [[2018 Malaysian general election]] (GE14), NCR issues at [[Selangau (federal constituency)|Selangau]] prompted Baru to contest for the seat.<ref name=Selangau/> He subsequently won the parliamentary seat against BN's Rita Sarimah with a majority of 486 votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jane |first1=Moh |title=Baru Bian secures maiden parliament win in Selangau |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/05/10/baru-bian-secures-maiden-parliament-win-in-selangau/ |access-date=26 November 2018 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=10 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510000120/http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/05/10/baru-bian-secures-maiden-parliament-win-in-selangau|archive-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> PKR successfully won four seats in Sarawak in GE14 then, pointing to the party newly gained grassroots support and a disunited split in BN's component parties, [[United Bumiputera Heritage Party]] (PBB) in [[Puncak Borneo (federal constituency)|Puncak Borneo]], [[Sarawak United Peoples' Party]] (SUPP) in [[Miri (federal constituency)|Miri]]; and also BN coalition's own disarrays in [[Saratok (federal constituency)|Saratok]] and Selangau.<ref name=pkr/><ref name=PKRsrwk/> On 2 July 2018, Baru was sworn in as the Minister of Works of Malaysia at [[Istana Negara, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim|National Palace]].<ref name=minister/><ref>{{cite news |title=New members of Malaysia's Cabinet sworn in |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/new-memebrs-of-malaysias-cabinet-sworn-in |access-date=26 November 2018 |publisher=The Straits Times |date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911082355/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/new-memebrs-of-malaysias-cabinet-sworn-in |archive-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>

In [[2020 Malaysian political crisis]], Baru with 10 other [[People's Justice Party, Malaysia|PKR]] MPs led by [[Mohamed Azmin Ali]] decided to leave the party to support [[Malaysian United Indigenous Party]] (BERSATU) Prime Minister candidate [[Mahathir Mohamad]] to remain as the Prime Minister. However, after Mahathir resigns, BERSATU picked Muhyiddin for the Prime Minister position. Amidst PH also changed their support to [[Anwar Ibrahim]] from Mahathir for Prime Minister, Baru had turned Independent rather than follow Azmin's group, joining BERSATU to form the [[Perikatan Nasional]] (PN) government with Muhyiddin as Prime Minister, and be accused a hypocrite as well as opportunistic politician.<ref name="independent"/> In the aftermath, Baru had finally chosen to join the Sarawak-based [[United Sarawak Party]] (PSB) on 30 May 2020.<ref name=psb/>

Baru has managed to retain the Ba'kelalan seat for the third term but as a PSB candidate in a 5 corner contest in the [[2021 Sarawak state election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/official-sarawak-state-election-%E2%80%94-psb-candidate-baru-bian-wins-bakelalan-says-ec |title=arawak State election: Baru Bian retains Ba'kelalan seat for third term|work=[[Bernama]]|author=|publisher=[[The Edge (Malaysia)|The Edge Markets]]|date=18 December 2021|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://dayakdaily.com/baru-bian-wins-first-seat-for-psb-with-majority-of-680-votes/|title=Baru Bian wins first seat for PSB with majority of 680 votes|author=Wilfred Pilo|publisher=Dayak Daily|date=18 December 2021|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-18|title=PRN Sarawak: Menang tipis, Ba'Kelalan kekal milik Baru Bian|url=https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/178635/Pilihan-Raya/PRN-Sarawak/PRN-Sarawak-Menang-tipis-BaKelalan-kekal-milik-Baru-Bian|access-date=2021-12-18|website=[[Sinar Harian]]|language=ms}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Family===
Baru met his current wife Yu Ching Sieu during his studies at Melbourne, Australia when he joined Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF).{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=31}} Baru returned to Malaysia after graduation in 1986, Ching Sieu was still studying for another year for her double degree. She only returned to Malaysia in 1987. Baru and Ching Sieu was married on 17 December 1988.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=146}} Baru and Ching Sieu raised three children, all three are now practicing Lawyers.<ref name="Baru Bian CV"/> Meanwhile, Ching Sieu is a full-time housewife.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=223}}

He has six siblings and is the third child and the eldest son. His elder sisters are Mina and Serina. Freddie is his younger brother, followed by a sister named Sigang, a brother Paulus, and another sister named Litad.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=10}} Baru's father died of stomach cancer in 1993 at the age of 62 and was buried at Miri.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=38}}

===Religion===
Baru was baptised at [[Limbang River]] in 1973 by a New Zealand missionary named Murray Munroe.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=18}} A few months before baptism, a testimony given by a former gangster from Singapore during an Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) meeting had strengthen Baru's belief in Christianity.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=18}} Baru started to play guitar for Christian songs while he was a member of ISCF at SMK Limbang.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=18}} He later become the president of ICSF during Form 4 and Form 5. He participated in Young Christian Students Movement (YCSM) year-end mission trips during his secondary school years.{{sfn|Baru|2014|pp=20-22}} During his years at ITM, he attended Full Gospel Assembly Church service at Old Klang Road.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=29}} He also attended a Christian Fellowship in ITM.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=28}} When Baru studied at Melbourne, Australia, he attended Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF).{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=31}}

===Hobbies and interests===
Baru learned ''[[Ngajat]]'' dance during his primary school years at Long Lellang.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=11}} He is able to sing songs in [[alto]] since he was in Form 4.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=3}} Baru also started to play football while he was in Form 6.{{sfn|Baru|2014|p=24}}

==Election results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!Ballots cast
!Majority
!Turnout
|-
|[[1991 Sarawak state election|1991]]
|N56 [[Lawas (state constituency)|Lawas]]
|{{party color cell|Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak}}
|{{nowrap|Baru Bian}} ([[Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak|PBDS]])
|align="right" |2,433
|28.59%
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''Tengah Ali Hassin''' ([[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu|'''PBB''']])
|align="right" |'''6,076'''
|'''71.41%'''
|8,619
|3,643
|74.10%
|-
|[[2004 Ba'kelalan by-election|2004]]
|N62 [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]]
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|{{nowrap|Baru Bian}} ([[Independent politician|IND]])
|align="right" |1,391
|32.85%
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''[[Nelson Balang Rining]]''' ([[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|'''SPDP''']])
|align="right" |'''2,843'''
|'''67.15%'''
|4,313
|1,452
|56.04%
|-
|[[2006 Sarawak state election|2006]]
| rowspan=2|N70 [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]]
|{{party color cell|Sarawak National Party}}
|{{nowrap|Baru Bian}} ([[Sarawak National Party|SNAP]])
|align="right" |1,589
|43.50%
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''[[Nelson Balang Rining]]''' ([[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|'''SPDP''']])
|align="right" |'''2,064'''
|'''56.50%'''
|3,680
|475
|58.56%
|-
|[[2011 Sarawak state election|2011]]
|{{party shading/Keadilan}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Baru Bian'''}} ([[Parti Keadilan Rakyat|'''PKR''']])
|align="right" |'''2,505'''
|'''55.21%'''
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Willie Liau ([[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|SPDP]])
|align="right" |2,032
|44.79%
|4,585
|473
|65.90%
|-
|[[2016 Sarawak state election|2016]]
| rowspan=5|N81 [[Ba'kelalan (state constituency)|Ba'kelalan]]
|{{party shading/Keadilan}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Baru Bian'''}} ([[Parti Keadilan Rakyat|'''PKR''']])
|align="right" |'''2,858'''
|'''55.20%'''
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|Willie Liau ([[Progressive Democratic Party (Malaysia)|SPDP]])
|align="right" |2,320
|44.80%
|5,229
|538
|70.90%
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[2021 Sarawak state election|2021]]
|rowspan="4" {{party color cell|United Sarawak Party}}
| rowspan="4" |'''Baru Bian''' ([[Parti Sarawak Bersatu|'''PSB''']])
| rowspan="4" align=right|'''2,687'''
| rowspan="4" |'''54.66%'''
|{{party shading/Gabungan Parti Sarawak}} |
|Sam Laya ([[Gabungan Parti Sarawak|GPS]])
| align=right|2,007
|40.83%
| rowspan="4" |4,916
| rowspan="4" |680
| rowspan="4" |
|-
|{{party color cell|Parti Bumi Kenyalang}}
|Pita Asut @ Peter Asut ([[Parti Bumi Kenyalang|PBK]])
| align=right|110
| align=right|2.24%
|-
|{{party shading/Keadilan}} |
|Martin Labo ([[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|PKR]])
| align=right|57
| align=right|1.16%
|-
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|Agnes Padan ([[Independent politician|IND]])
| align=right|55
| align=right|1.12%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Dewan Rakyat|Parliament of Malaysia]]'''
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|Candidate
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!Ballots cast
!Majority
!Turnout
|-
|[[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]
|'''P221 [[Limbang (federal constituency)|Limbang]]'''
|{{party shading/Keadilan}} |
|{{nowrap|Baru Bian}} ([[Parti Keadilan Rakyat|PKR]])
|align="right" |4,698
|26.55%
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|'''[[Hasbi Habibollah]]''' ([[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu|'''PBB''']])
|align="right" |'''12,999'''
|'''73.45%'''
|17,912
|8,301
|73.78%
|-
|[[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]]
|'''P214 [[Selangau (federal constituency)|Selangau]]'''
|{{party shading/Keadilan}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Baru Bian'''}} ([[Parti Keadilan Rakyat|'''PKR''']])
|align="right" |'''11,228'''
|'''51.11%'''
|{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|[[Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol|Rita Sarimah]] ([[Parti Rakyat Sarawak|PRS]])
|align="right" |10,742
|48.89%
|22,352
|486
|74.44%
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2022 Malaysian general election|2022]]
| rowspan="2" |'''P222 [[Lawas (federal constituency)|Lawas]]'''
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{United Sarawak Party/meta/shading}}" |
| rowspan="2" |{{nowrap|Baru Bian}} ([[Parti Sarawak Bersatu|PSB]])
| rowspan="2" align="right" | 5,684
| rowspan="2" | 31.22%
|{{party shading/Gabungan Parti Sarawak}} |
|'''[[Henry Sum Agong]]''' ([[Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu|'''PBB''']])
| align="right" | '''11,361'''
|'''62.40%'''
| rowspan="2" |18,208
| rowspan="2" |5,677
| rowspan="2" |54.10%
|-
|{{party shading/PH}} |
|Japar Suyut ([[People's Justice Party (Malaysia)|PKR]])
| align="right" | 1,163
| align="right" |6.39%
|}

==Publications==
Baru's memoir, ''The Long Awakening'', coauthored with journalist Deborah Loh, chronicles the Sarawakian leader's personal and political life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/430332|title=Baru Bian's long haul from Long Luping|author=Joseph Masilamany|publisher=[[Malaysiakini]]|date=19 June 2018 |access-date= 31 May 2020}}</ref>
* {{cite book |last1=Baru |first1=Bian |last2=Deborah |first2=Loh |title=The Long Awakening |date=2014 |publisher=Baru Bian |location=Kuching, Sarawak |isbn=978-967-12316-0-9 |language=en |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35112488-the-long-awakening|ref={{sfnref|Baru|2014}}}}

==References==
{{Reflist|22em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.barubian.net/ Official website]
* {{facebook|barubian}}

{{Sarawak-FedRep}}
{{Seventh Mahathir cabinet}}
{{Portal bar|Malaysia|Biography|Politics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bian, Baru}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malaysian Christians]]
[[Category:20th-century Malaysian lawyers]]
[[Category:Malaysian activists]]
[[Category:Sarawak politicians]]
[[Category:Former People's Justice Party (Malaysia) politicians]]
[[Category:Sarawak National Party politicians]]
[[Category:Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak politicians]]
[[Category:Independent politicians in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Members of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:University of Melbourne alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century Malaysian lawyers]]
[[Category:Malaysian MPs 2018–2022]]