By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 10: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has strongly refuted recent claims by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen that Sarawak is “flush with cash but failing its poor,” asserting instead that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is investing heavily in people, infrastructure and the State’s future.
“Chong’s statement is a textbook example of selective outrage and distortion designed to mislead. The truth is that Sarawak’s revenue is being reinvested on a scale and depth DAP has never delivered,” Yap claimed in a press release today.
He highlighted that Sarawak has built a comprehensive social safety net that supports citizens at every stage of life.
“For newborns and mothers, we provide RM1,000 through the Endowment Fund and RM450 in postnatal assistance.
“For early childhood development, every registered childcare centre receives an annual RM5,000 grant,” he explained.
Students benefit from school uniform vouchers, free transport, tuition subsidies and incentives that extend to tertiary education. Sarawak will also offer free university education from 2026 with no bond attached.
“For senior citizens, there is a RM500 health benefit, Kenyalang Gold Card discounts and RM3,000 in funeral assistance.
“Low-income families receive food vouchers worth RM250 to RM800, targeted medical aid and microcredit support to empower small entrepreneurs,” Yap said.
“This is what spending on people looks like, not slogans and press conferences. GPS supports families from cradle to golden years,” he added.
Yap also pointed out that over 60 per cent of Sarawak’s development budget is dedicated to rural transformation, with major efforts to deliver roads, clinics, electricity and clean water to long-neglected areas.
“When DAP was part of the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020, they slashed allocations and cancelled critical infrastructure. While they politicked in Malaya, GPS stepped up to deliver what Putrajaya failed to do,” he claimed.
He noted that many major infrastructure projects now driving Sarawak’s development were originally federal obligations abandoned under the Pakatan Harapan administration, such as the Batang Lupar, Batang Igan, Batang Rambungan, and Batang Kemena bridges.
“These are not cosmetic projects. These are vital economic arteries. DAP was part of the coalition that walked away from them. Now they pretend those years never happened,” he said.
Yap further underlined Sarawak’s forward-looking investments aimed at achieving economic self-reliance and resilience.
These include the development of a new international airport and deep-sea port, renewable energy industries to create high-value jobs, the Kuching Urban Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system, a coastal highway to link communities, the Air Borneo regional airline, and the State’s Sovereign Wealth Fund to safeguard intergenerational wealth.
He added that Sarawak also holds strategic stakes in Affin Bank and offers the lowest electricity tariffs in Malaysia.
“These are not just projects. They represent a vision for a confident, self-reliant Sarawak. DAP has never demonstrated such ambition. They specialise in complaints. We focus on delivery,” Yap said.
On the controversy surrounding the RM30 million flagpole, Yap clarified that it was not funded by taxpayers but financed as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) package by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS), and Shell.
“Deliberately misrepresenting this is irresponsible. If Chong thinks twisting facts and fishing for headlines is ‘check and balance,’ he is wrong. Real accountability is built on substance,” he said.
He added that while welfare assistance in Malaysia is largely a federal responsibility, GPS has committed substantial state resources to go beyond the minimum.
“DAP knows this but chooses to distort. This is the same DAP that, when in power, allocated less to Sarawak than any other administration,” Yap asserted.
“While DAP rehashes old complaints and issues press statements, GPS is building roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, modern public transport and delivering the lowest electricity tariffs in Malaysia.”
“GPS doesn’t just talk about Sarawak First. GPS finds the funds, builds it and delivers it,” he added. — DayakDaily
