By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Aug 8: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said Sarawak’s system of checks and balances should be built on strong institutions and a united State government, instead of relying solely on the size of the opposition.
Speaking to reporters after a public town hall debate with Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Yap said Sarawak’s political landscape is different from that of Peninsular Malaysia.
“As far as I am concerned, if you are talking about checks and balances, we need a strong Sarawak. GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) should be the check and balance to the federal government to ensure everything that has been promised is implemented,” he said after the debate at Crown Square Community Hall last night (Aug 7).
He said Sarawakians should remain united in defending the State’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We must show the rest that we are united. We have one common purpose, which is to take back our rights under MA63,” he said.
He also aimed the Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) role as an opposition force in Sarawak, saying the party’s approach should be assessed by whether it can contribute constructively to protecting the State’s interests.
He said Sarawak’s check-and-balance mechanism should not be reduced to the number of opposition seats, but should focus on whether all political actors are committed to strengthening institutions and advancing Sarawak’s rights under MA63.
During the session, he cited countries such as Singapore, Japan, Sweden, and Norway as examples in which accountability is upheld through independent institutions, including the judiciary, auditors, and anti-corruption agencies.
He said Sarawak has taken a similar approach through the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance 2023, which established the country’s first State ombudsman to investigate maladministration and improve accountability in the public service.
Through the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) Special Select Committee, he said that the State’s checks and balances are backed by legal mechanisms rather than mere ‘political theatre’.
Yap also highlighted the GPS government’s long-term development agenda under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 backed by major initiatives, including the State’s investments in Affin Bank Berhad, the acquisition of Bintulu Port and the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam, the establishment of AirBorneo and the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund, as well as the development of the proposed Tanjung Embang International Airport and Deep Sea Port.
He added that the government is also investing heavily in bridges, renewable energy, green hydrogen, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the semiconductor industry, modern agriculture, and free tertiary education for eligible Sarawakians.
According to Yap, these initiatives demonstrate that the GPS government is focused on long-term development rather than short-term political gains.
He said checks and balances are already present within the system, but stressed that Sarawak’s priority is maintaining unity of purpose among its people.
“We invest in our greatest asset—our people—through free tertiary education and human capital development. These are enduring institutions and investments that will continue serving Sarawakians long after today’s politicians have left office.
“That is the true meaning of checks and balances. That is responsible governance, and that is why Sarawak continues to move forward with confidence under Gabungan Parti Sarawak,” he added in his debate.
The town hall, organised by Rise of Social Efforts (ROSE) and moderated by its president, Geoffrey Tang, provided a platform for Yap and Yii to put forward contrasting views on checks and balances, accountability, and the roles of the government and opposition in Sarawak’s development. — DayakDaily
