KUCHING: Democratic Action Party DAP’s repeated call for “check and balance” in Sarawak has been described as a political trap to divert attention from its own record.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching branch youth said DAP could not present itself as a watchdog in Sarawak while remaining selective on sensitive federal issues.
“If DAP is loud in Sarawak but quiet in Putrajaya, that is not check and balance. That is political theatre,” it said in a press statement today.
It said DAP had 40 MPs in Parliament and held ministerial and deputy ministerial posts in the federal government, and should explain its record.
“Democracy required scrutiny, but DAP must first explain what it had done with the power it already held,” it said.
The statement said recent SST adjustments, the expansion of the service tax scope, e-invoicing implementation and rising compliance costs had caused concern among small businesses.
“If DAP truly cares about the people’s burden, it should explain what it has done at the federal level to seek safeguards and relief measures,” it said.
The statement said DAP remained rooted in Malayan politics, while its political priorities did not necessarily reflect Sarawak’s interests.
It also said Sarawakians had not forgotten Lim Guan Eng’s previous claim that Sarawak would go bankrupt, with Sarawak DAP echoing the narrative.
“Sarawak did not go bankrupt. Instead, Sarawak has maintained sound finances, expanded its revenue base, implemented major infrastructure projects and secured greater development autonomy,” it said.
The statement said DAP later remained silent after Lim apologised to Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, asking how it could build Sarawak.
“People want promises to be fulfilled, not excuses after positions have changed,” the statement said, adding that the ruling GPS was not afraid of factual, constructive scrutiny.
It said check and balance should not be reduced to political noise without workable solutions, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had praised Sarawak’s development direction.
“When DAP keeps opposing in Sarawak while its own national leadership praises Sarawak’s direction, people will see it as election theatre, not a sincere effort to build Sarawak,” it said.
