Datuk

Malay titles

The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....

 Billy Abit Joo is a Malaysian politician. He is currently the Member of the Parliament of Malaysia

Parliament of Malaysia

The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....

 for the Hulu Rajang

Hulu Rajang

Hulu Rajang, in the state of Sarawak, is Malaysia’s largest parliamentary constituency. At 31,817 km2 it is about the same size as the state of Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia's largest state....

 constituency in Sarawak

Sarawak

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...

, representing the Sarawak People's Party

Parti Rakyat Sarawak

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak or, PRS is a political party in Malaysia. The party is one of the constituent members of the ruling Barisan Nasional...

 (PRS) in the governing Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional

Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...

 coalition.

Billy Abit entered Parliament in the 1990 election

Malaysian general election, 1990

General elections were held in Malaysia on 21 October 1990. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 127 of the 180 seats...

, running as an independent. His rural constituency is the largest by area in Malaysia. In 2009, he led a parliamentary delegation into his constituency to enquire into living conditions of the Penan

Penan

The Penan are a nomadic aboriginal people living in Sarawak and Brunei. They are one of the last such peoples remaining. The Penan are noted for their practice of 'molong' which means never taking more than necessary...

 people. He has called for the establishment of forest reserves for the Penans.

In 2008, Billy Abit crossed party lines to be the only government MP to sign a petition for the review of Malaysia's Internal Security Act

Internal Security Act (Malaysia)

The Internal Security Act 1960 is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted after Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The ISA allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstances...

.

Election results

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Parliament of Malaysia

Dewan Rakyat

The Dewan Rakyat is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. All bills must usually be passed by both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara , before they are given Royal Assent by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...

: Hulu Rajang

Hulu Rajang

Hulu Rajang, in the state of Sarawak, is Malaysia’s largest parliamentary constituency. At 31,817 km2 it is about the same size as the state of Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia's largest state....

, Sarawak

Sarawak

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...

!|Year
!
!|Barisan Nasional
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|1990

Malaysian general election, 1990

General elections were held in Malaysia on 21 October 1990. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 127 of the 180 seats...

|
| |Justine Jinggut
| align="right" |4,200
| |54%
|
| | (IND

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

)
| align="right" |5,393
| |42%
|-
|1995

Malaysian general election, 1995

General elections were held in Malaysia on 25 April 1995. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 162 of the 192 seats. Voter turnout was 68.3%.-Results:...

|
| |
| align="right" |6,731
| |67%
|
| |Lucius Jimbun (IND

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

)
| align="right" |3,084
| |31%
|-
|1999

Malaysian general election, 1999

The 1999 Malaysian General Election was held on 29 November 1999 as stipulated by the laws of Malaysia for general elections. As expected, the Barisan Nasional coalition maintained its majority in parliament, and thus, its grip on the post of Prime Minister....

|
| |
| align="right" |6,884
| |70%
|
| |Kumbong Langit (IND

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

)
| align="right" |2,751
| |28%
|-
|2004

Malaysian general election, 2004

General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...

|
| |
| align="right" |6,949
| |67%
|
| |Bendindang Manjah (SNAP

Sarawak National Party

Sarawak National Party known by its acronym as "SNAP", is a political party in Malaysia. It was a member party of Barisan Nasional since Sarawak joined Malaysia until 2004 when it was expelled from Barisan Nasional...

)
| align="right" |3,283
| |32%
|-
|2008

Malaysian general election, 2008

The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...

|
| |
| align="right" |6,590
| |59%
|
| |George Lagong (IND

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

)
| align="right" |4,426
| |25%