Chong challenges Yap to identify which issues raised by Sarawak DAP were merely political in nature and unrelated to the welfare and livelihoods of the people.
KUCHING (May 29): Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has been labelled the “Minister of DAP Affairs” for allegedly criticising every move and statement made by Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Sarawak DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) organising secretary Chong Hong Hien, who coined the label, challenged Yap to identify which issues raised by Sarawak DAP were merely political in nature and unrelated to the welfare and livelihoods of the people.
Chong said Yap should not dismiss Sarawak DAP’s emphasis on checks and balances as political gimmickry.
“During the recent Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, state DAP, despite having only two elected representatives, raised several pressing issues that deeply affect the livelihoods of ordinary Sarawakians,” he said in a statement.
The two DAP lawmakers are Chong Chieng Jen and Violet Yong.
Chong said among the issues raised were the steep fees imposed under the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) scheme, the failure of the 2013 paddy planting project and safeguards for the 2026 initiative, potholes and water disruptions linked to the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project, the proposed relocation of the Pending Industrial Area, and high airfares charged by AirBorneo.
Taking the ART project as an example, he said Yap continued to praise its implementation while ignoring earlier statements by state leaders on project timelines.
He noted that State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin had announced in December 2023 that the first ART line would be completed by end-2025, while Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had also later expressed dissatisfaction over the project’s slow progress.
“Surely, as a staunch defender of the Sarawak government, Yap would not have missed the statements made by his own party and coalition leaders,” said Chong.
He added that besides delays, ART construction works had also caused potholes and frequent water supply disruptions.
“These problems are not only safety hazards to road users, but have also caused tremendous inconvenience and losses to businesses and residents in the affected areas,” he said.
He said any responsible lawmaker should raise such issues in the august House and seek assistance for affected communities, instead of attacking those who highlight concerns.
Chong stressed that effective checks and balances were not about blindly defending the government or attacking the opposition, but about scrutinising policies and implementation.
He said this included giving a voice to the voiceless and ensuring public concerns were addressed.
Citing the FWTA issue, he said Sarawak DAP had successfully brought public pressure that led to a review of the scheme’s mechanism.
“The outcome speaks for itself — Premier Abang Johari ultimately announced a review of the FWTA mechanism,” he said.
Chong added that the episode showed that Sarawak DAP, despite being a minority in the state assembly, could still push for accountability.
“Regardless, Yap may continue playing his role as the ‘Minister of DAP Affairs’ but Sarawak DAP will continue fulfilling its responsibility as the people’s watchdog by monitoring the Sarawak government and ensuring that the voices of ordinary people are heard by those in the ivory towers of power,” he said.