By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 20: It is not weakness nor ‘hypersensitivity’ to respect the public’s concerns on the Santubong beer issue—it is Sarawakian maturity, says Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap.
In a statement, Yap said that Chong’s criticism of the Santubong beer issue shows that he is undermining Sarawak’s identity rather than defending it.
He said Chong was wrong to accuse GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) leaders like Dato Sri Nancy Shukri of importing Peninsular Malaysia-style politics to the State, as she was simply voicing the concerns of her constituents, as she is the Santubong MP.
“Respecting those concerns is not weakness, nor is it ‘hypersensitivity’. It is Sarawakian maturity—the ability to resolve issues before they divide us.
“By criticising the concerns of the Muslim-majority Santubong community and comparing YB Nancy to a West Malaysian politician, YB Chong is not defending Sarawak’s identity—he is undermining it.
“His statement suggests that the commercial interests of a beer company are more important than the sensitivities of a community. This dismissive attitude can only create distrust between communities and undo the very tolerance he claims to champion,” said Yap.
He said that GPS leaders have always taken a balanced approach of upholding development and promoting Sarawak’s identity, while respecting the beliefs of all its people.
“Sarawak tuak, for example, is proudly promoted as part of our heritage, but it is never marketed in a way that disrespects or provokes any community. This is the difference between responsible leadership and reckless politicking,” he said.
At the same time, Yap also said that the use of ‘Santubong’ as a brand name for a locally brewed beer is a misguided decision.
Yap explained that the beer was brewed in Sibu and that ‘Santubong’ was chosen as a brand name as it is an iconic Sarawak landmark tied to folklore, tourism, and culture.
“However, this decision was misguided. If the brewer truly wanted to honour local heritage, it would have been far more appropriate to use a name closer to their home base in Sibu, where the beer is actually made.
“By using ‘Santubong’, which is also the name of a Muslim-majority constituency, the company showed insensitivity to local realities and caused unnecessary offence. This was not about protecting culture—it was about a careless marketing choice that could have been easily avoided,” he said. — DayakDaily
