By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 3: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching branch acting secretary and Youth chief Nicholas Wung Duk Ying says Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should remain focused on addressing bread-and-butter issues and delivering on its promises, noting that voters are increasingly judging governments by their ability to improve everyday lives following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) recent setbacks in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
In a statement today, he said the recent election outcomes reinforced the importance of continuing to earn the people’s trust through consistent service rather than taking public support for granted.
“Every state has its own political background and voter structure. For GPS, what matters most is to continue doing our work well and earn the people’s trust through real service,” he said.
According to Wung, election results are influenced by a combination of factors, including local issues, candidate performance, party image, economic pressures, employment opportunities and public perception of a government’s performance.
He attributed GPS’ continued support in Sarawak to its local-based political approach, saying the coalition has consistently defended the State’s rights, pursued development and safeguarded peace and harmony in the multi-ethnic State.
He also highlighted the GPS government’s progress in infrastructure, education, energy, aviation, ports, the digital economy and efforts to implement rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which he said had provided Sarawak with a clearer development direction.
At the same time, Wung emphasised that governments must continue earning public confidence by addressing issues that directly affect people’s daily lives.
“What the people care about is whether the cost of living can be eased, income opportunities can improve, traffic can become smoother, small traders can do better, and young people can have better jobs and development opportunities,” he said.
He added that leaders should maintain close engagement with the rakyat beyond election periods, saying sustained grassroots outreach is essential to understanding public concerns.
Speaking in his capacity as SUPP Kuching branch Youth chief, Wung observed that Kuching residents continue to face challenges such as rising living costs, youth employment, wage levels, traffic congestion, difficulties encountered by small businesses, inadequate community facilities and the efficiency of public services.
“The role of the youth wing is to bring grassroots voices forward. Listening to the people is not something to be done only before elections, but a responsibility that must be carried out consistently,” he noted.
Looking ahead to the coming State election, Wung described it as both a test and a responsibility for GPS. While the coalition could point to its track record, he said it should also acknowledge areas requiring improvement and continue seeking the people’s mandate with humility and a practical approach.
He added that recent political developments in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia reinforced the importance of Sarawak maintaining its local-based political direction.
“Sarawak’s future cannot be decided by others on our behalf. We must safeguard our own stability, defend our own rights and deliver our own development.
“The real advantage is not that the opponent has lost, but that the people believe we can still do better,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
