By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 27: Urban voters have been urged to look beyond political slogans and question whether giving the Democratic Action Party (DAP) more seats in the coming Sarawak election would genuinely deliver better outcomes for the State.
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said the question was particularly relevant following DAP Sarawak’s public acknowledgement that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was likely to win the election.
“If DAP itself believes GPS will form the next government, what is the real purpose of giving DAP any seats in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly?” he asked in a statement today.
Yap said urban Sarawakians had overwhelmingly supported DAP for many years based on promises of strong representation, a stronger voice and meaningful change.
“But after all these years, have those promises truly been delivered?,” he asked further.
More importantly, Yap said, voters should not accept the argument that Sarawak needed DAP to provide “checks and balances” within the State government.
He argued that GPS already had its own internal checks and balances through its four component parties of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
He said that the coalition’s composition allowed different communities and regions to be represented, with the component parties engaging through consultation, discussion and consensus on issues affecting Sarawak and its people.
“The difference is that GPS believes differences can be resolved through consultation and consensus, without compromising the unity and stability of the Sarawak government,” he said.
Yap emphasised that Sarawak did not need to be politically divided to ensure that every community was heard.
“Today, Sarawak is at an important turning point. Under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak is pursuing a clear development agenda, strengthening our economic position and asserting our rights and interests under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
He added that the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 was a vision for the whole of Sarawak and that urban constituencies should remain part of the wider development agenda.
“Why should our urban constituencies be encouraged to separate themselves politically from the wider Sarawak agenda?” he asked.
Yap also questioned whether sending more opposition representatives to the Sarawak Assembly would necessarily produce better outcomes for urban voters when GPS already represented different communities and regions through its four component parties.
“If DAP’s argument is that GPS will win anyway, then the sensible question is whether voters should use their votes to strengthen Sarawak’s mandate or deliberately create a larger opposition bloc,” he said.
While acknowledging the importance of checks and balances, Yap said integrity, stability, continuity, unity and effective governance were equally important.
He said Sarawak needed a strong and united government capable of defending its rights, implementing its development agenda, attracting investment and negotiating with the federal government from a position of strength.
“Now is not the time to split Sarawak. It is time to strengthen Sarawak,” he said.
Yap urged urban voters to consider what he described as the bigger “Sarawak First” agenda when making their choice at the coming Sarawak election.
“If GPS is going to form the next Sarawak government, let us give it a strong and united mandate to govern, while allowing PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP to continue their role of representing Sarawak’s diverse communities, consulting with one another and ensuring that no community is left behind,” he said. — DayakDaily
