BY RUSNAN MUSTAFA
KUCHING: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said the role of elected representatives, including those from the opposition, should not merely be to criticise the government but to focus on effectively resolving the people’s problems.
He said the checks-and-balances role must be carried out responsibly by scrutinising official government documents, putting forward constructive proposals and ensuring that people’s issues are addressed through the proper channels.
He said all information relating to government expenditure, including Supply Bills, Supplementary Supply Bills, Command Papers and audited financial statements, is tabled before members of the State Legislative Assembly for scrutiny.
“All these documents are public documents. Assembly members only need to spend time scrutinising the documents provided, rather than turning certain issues into political performances,” he said.
He said this during a public town hall session themed “The Role of Government, Opposition and Checks and Balances in Sarawak’s Development” at Crown Square here on Saturday.
Yap added that there was a difference between political rhetoric and the actual discharge of responsibilities as an elected representative, noting that government backbenchers also played an important role as a checks-and-balances mechanism in the administration.
He stressed that the success of a government depends not only on the existence of an effective opposition, but is also influenced by clear policies and efficient implementation.
Sharing his experience as an elected representative, Yap said he inherited a constituency that had previously been represented by the opposition for three terms and had to address various outstanding issues, including flash floods.
He said resolving an issue requires a lengthy process, beginning with identifying the problem, informing the relevant agencies, preparing the scope of work and cost estimates, securing funding approval and monitoring the implementation of the project until completion.
“Being an elected representative is not merely about issuing media statements or uploading pictures on social media. More importantly, it is about ensuring that the people’s problems are genuinely resolved,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also claimed that several achievements often attributed to the opposition in Sarawak were actually the result of sustained efforts by the state government and component parties of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), including the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP).
He claimed that efforts relating to land lease renewals, assistance for Chinese schools, recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) in Sarawak and the establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) were the result of policies and initiatives by the state government, rather than being brought about by pressure or media statements from the opposition.
“I hope the responsible opposition will not claim credit for something that was not the result of their efforts, but instead play a constructive role together in the interest of the people,” he said.
