By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 27: The federal government must allocate at least one-third of its development budget to Sarawak and Sabah—not issue hollow soundbites—if Pakatan Harapan (PH) is truly serious about resolving Native Customary Rights (NCR) land issues and advancing Sarawak’s development.
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap made this pointed call in response to recent remarks by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who urged for the acceleration of NCR land surveys in Sarawak.
Yap criticised her comments as “a transparent attempt to exploit Sarawak’s issues” while PH remains in power yet continues to fall short on delivering meaningful commitments.
“It is simply disingenuous for Peninsular politicians to issue statements as though they are mere observers, when in fact PH is now the federal government.
“If PH leaders are sincere about helping Sarawak, let their actions speak louder than empty words,” he said in a statement today.
He stressed that Sarawakians have heard countless promises over the decades and are now scrutinising federal actions—not rhetoric.
“For decades, we have listened to Peninsular-based parties talk about respecting Sarawak’s rights. Yet the reality is that federal budgets and allocations consistently fall short of reflecting true equality,” he said.
Yap emphasised that any genuine commitment must begin with the federal government honouring the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“If PH genuinely cares about NCR land and Sarawak’s development, then allocate at least one-third of the federal development budget to Sabah and Sarawak, in line with our contribution to the nation and our rightful place under MA63. That would be real proof of commitment—not recycled statements designed to grab headlines,” he said.
Yap also warned Sarawakians against being misled by opportunists who only remember Sarawak when they need to polish their image.
“It is insulting to Sarawakians’ intelligence to pretend that simply issuing a press statement somehow erases years of broken promises,” he said, pointing out that Sarawakians know who their “true friends” are—those who engage with local communities on the ground, respect the State’s legal frameworks and do not treat the land as a convenient political backdrop.
“Sarawak belongs to Sarawakians. Our land laws are protected by the Sarawak Land Code and MA63. We do not need lectures from politicians who have had every chance to deliver but prefer to issue press statements instead,” he stressed.
Yap concluded with a call for real investment and respect for Sarawak’s autonomy.
“If Pakatan Harapan wants Sarawakians to take them seriously, they must show it through concrete action—bigger budget allocations, real investments, and respect for our autonomy. Until then, Sarawakians will see these remarks for what they are: empty talk,” he added.
Nurul Izzah, in a Free Malaysia Today news report, had called for expedited surveys and ownership approvals for NCR land, while urging a halt to the issuance of new licences on disputed areas.
She claimed that unresolved land issues leave indigenous communities vulnerable to encroachment and exploitation, and criticised the expansion of oil palm plantations and logging at the expense of these communities. — DayakDaily
