KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has urged Sarawakians to remain cautious of what he described as increasingly aggressive political tactics by the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) against major development projects in the state.
He said opposition leaders were continuously politicising long-term infrastructure initiatives, creating public doubt and confusion instead of contributing constructive proposals for Sarawak’s future development agenda.
“The ART project and the proposed new international airport are strategic long-term infrastructure investments intended to transform Kuching and Sarawak’s future economy, connectivity and competitiveness,” Yap said in a press statement today (May 29).
According to him, the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system should not be viewed merely as a conventional bus service, as portrayed by certain opposition leaders and online narratives in recent weeks.
Yap said the hydrogen-powered ART system was designed as a modern medium-capacity transit network featuring dedicated and partially elevated lanes aimed at improving urban mobility and reducing traffic congestion in Greater Kuching.
He added that the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project was already progressing in phases, with operations expected to begin from late next year along several major routes across Kuching.
The KUTS network is among Sarawak’s largest public transport initiatives and forms part of the state government’s broader push towards green technology and sustainable urban development.
“The public must ask themselves — while the Sarawak Government is planning decades ahead for modern public transportation, what exactly is DAP’s alternative proposal besides criticising every initiative?” he questioned.
Yap also defended the proposed new international airport at Tanjung Embang, describing it as part of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s long-term strategy to strengthen regional aviation and logistics connectivity.
He said the proposed airport would complement ongoing investments involving ART connectivity, road infrastructure, tourism development, green energy ambitions and future economic expansion in Kuching and Samarahan.
According to Yap, Sarawak’s long-term infrastructure planning was necessary to support growing investment, tourism arrivals, cargo movement and regional economic integration in the coming decades.
“There is a clear difference between responsible check-and-balance and irresponsible politicisation. The opposition should contribute ideas and solutions, not merely generate controversy and negativity,” he stressed.
Yap further claimed that some opposition leaders practised double standards by supporting large-scale infrastructure projects in Penang while questioning similar long-term initiatives implemented by the Sarawak Government.
He added that Sarawak’s future transformation agenda required political stability, continuity and long-term planning to ensure investments made today would benefit future generations of Sarawakians.
The debate surrounding major infrastructure projects has continued to attract public attention in recent months, particularly involving transportation planning, economic sustainability and the long-term direction of urban development in Sarawak.
Supporters argue that such projects are essential to modernise public infrastructure and strengthen economic competitiveness, while critics have raised concerns over implementation costs, transparency and long-term feasibility.
