Liwan Lagang

Summary

Datuk Liwan Lagang is a PRS assemblyman who has represented the Belaga constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 2006, and has served as State Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) since January 2022. As an Orang Ulu leader and a PRS vice-president, he is a senior figure in Sarawak's GPS ruling coalition, with a portfolio focused on expanding rural digital connectivity. He was re-elected in Belaga at the 2021 state election with 70.52 percent of votes.

Biography

Datuk Liwan Lagang is a Malaysian politician from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. Born in 1957 in the Crown Colony of Sarawak [1], he completed his Senior Cambridge education in Kanowit in 1975 [2]. He has represented the Belaga state constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) since May 2006 [2], making him one of the longest-serving assemblymen for the seat. He is a member of the Orang Ulu community, and when first appointed to the state Cabinet in 2011, he was noted as the only Orang Ulu in the Cabinet lineup at that time [3]. Over his legislative career, Liwan has held a series of assistant minister portfolios, including social development (culture and heritage) from 2011, river transportation and safety from 2016, water supplies from 2017, and rural electricity from 2019 [2]. Since January 2022, he has served as State Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication in charge of Telecommunication, under Minister Julaihi Narawi in Premier Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg's GPS state administration [2]. Within PRS, he holds the position of vice-president, a post he was re-elected to at the party's sixth triennial delegates' conference in October 2025 [4]. Liwan was re-elected in the Belaga constituency at the 2021 Sarawak state election with 70.52 percent of votes cast [5].

Known for

Liwan Lagang is known as the primary state-level voice on telecommunications development in Sarawak, particularly on closing the digital divide between rural and urban communities. He is the Belaga constituency's longest-serving representative, having held the seat continuously since 2006, and is recognised as a prominent Orang Ulu figure in Sarawakian politics. He has also drawn public attention for his outspoken stance on religious harmony and Sarawak's multiracial identity.

Political positions

On telecommunications and digital policy, Liwan has consistently advocated for extending 5G and broadband connectivity to Sarawak's remote rural areas, arguing that ultrafast connectivity is essential to bridging the digital divide and enabling equitable access to education and economic opportunity for rural communities [6][7]. He has also highlighted the threat of telecoms infrastructure vandalism, reporting to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly in May 2026 that vandalism caused an estimated RM11.34 million in losses in the preceding year, and announcing the formation of a dedicated anti-vandalism committee [3]. On religious and racial harmony, Liwan has publicly defended Sarawak's multiracial and multi-religious identity; in August 2022 he called for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to be barred from entering Sarawak following remarks he described as disparaging to non-Muslims and non-Bumiputera, and urged the federal Prime Minister to censure Hadi [6]. Premier Abang Johari cited Liwan's role in facilitating the construction of a mosque in the predominantly non-Muslim Belaga area as an example of Sarawak's model of inter-religious goodwill [3][8].

Education

1. 1975Completed Senior Cambridge education in Kanowit.⛓

Political career

1. May 2006First elected as Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Belaga in the 2006 Sarawak state election.⛓
2. April 2011Successfully defended the Belaga seat in the 2011 Sarawak state election, securing a second term.⛓
3. 2011Appointed Assistant Minister for Social Development in charge of the Culture and Heritage portfolio — the only Orang Ulu representative in the state Cabinet at that time.⛓
4. May 2016Re-elected in Belaga at the 2016 Sarawak state election with approximately 90 percent of votes cast.⛓
5. 2016Appointed Assistant Minister in charge of River Transportation and Safety.⛓
6. 2017Reappointed as Assistant Minister following a cabinet reshuffle, taking up the Water Supplies portfolio.⛓
7. 22 August 2019Transferred to the Ministry of Utilities to handle the Rural Electricity portfolio following another cabinet reshuffle by Chief Minister Abang Johari.⛓
8. December 2021Re-elected in Belaga at the 2021 Sarawak state election with 70.52 percent of votes cast.⛓
9. 4 January 2022Appointed State Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication in charge of Telecommunication in Premier Abang Johari's post-2021-election cabinet.⛓
10. October 2025Re-elected as one of five vice-presidents of PRS at the party's sixth triennial delegates' conference.⛓
11. May 2026Reported to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly that telecoms vandalism caused RM11.34 million in losses in the preceding year, and announced the formation of a state anti-vandalism committee.⛓

Election history

• 2021BelagaWon70.52%⛓
• 2016BelagaWon90%⛓
• 2011BelagaWon⛓
• 2006BelagaWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentPremier Abang Johari publicly commended Liwan Lagang for facilitating the construction of a mosque in Belaga, citing it as an example of Sarawak's model of inter-religious harmony, and urged voters to return him at the 2021 state election to ensure delivery of development projects for the upper Rejang region.⛓
• PublicCommunity leaders in Belaga expressed surprise and gratitude at Liwan's first Cabinet appointment in 2011, noting his hands-on approach to resolving constituency problems including land and compensation issues for the Orang Ulu community in Sungai Asap.⛓
• VerifiedFactsLiwan Lagang has held the Belaga seat across four consecutive state elections (2006, 2011, 2016, 2021). His 2021 vote share of 70.52% was reduced from approximately 90% in 2016, according to the Election Commission as reported by Malaysiakini.⛓