BY RUSNAN MUSTAFA
KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has reminded all parties not to claim credit for achievements that were not the result of their own efforts, likening such behaviour to the Malay proverb, “the cow produces the milk, but the buffalo gets the credit.” (lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama).
He said the success of various policies and initiatives implemented in Sarawak should not be used as political capital by any party that, he claimed, did not play a direct role in making them a reality.
“In Malay, there is a proverb, ‘lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama’. I hope the responsible opposition will not claim that an achievement was the result of their efforts when, in reality, it was implemented by others,” he said.
He told reporters this after attending a public town hall themed “The Roles of Government, Opposition and Checks and Balances in Sarawak’s Development”, at Crown Square here last night.
Meanwhile, Yap explained that several state government initiatives, including assistance to Chinese schools, recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) in Sarawak, the establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), and several other policies, were the result of continuous efforts by the Sarawak Government and component parties of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), including the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
He claimed that the opposition often attributed such achievements to pressure or statements they had made in the media, whereas the implementation of a policy, he said, required planning, negotiations and sustained commitment from the government.
He shared that being an elected representative was not merely about issuing media statements or criticising the government, but also required continuous efforts to identify problems, secure funding approval and ensure solutions were implemented.
“What matters is the outcome for the people, not who makes the loudest statements,” he stressed.
In this regard, he said the responsible opposition should play the role of a constructive policy watchdog and put forward proposals that could help improve the quality of governance, rather than taking credit for efforts carried out by others.
