DAP’s seat increase opposition shows lack of vision for Sarawak, says SUPP woman

KUCHING (July 11): Sarawak Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) opposition to the proposed increase in state seats suggests it lacks commitment to improving services for the people or envisioning a better Sarawak, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Batu Kitang secretary Amy Tnay.

She claimed that DAP “opposes any matters or decisions beneficial to Sarawak’s development”, reflecting what she described as the opposition party’s “typical peninsula-centric mindset”.

“The State Legislative Assembly merely proposed and passed a bill to increase seats, paving the way for the Election Commission to delineate new constituencies,” she said in a statement yesterday.

“No specific regions were mentioned or finalised for delineation, and DAP’s resistance even at this preliminary stage demonstrates its opposition to Sarawak’s need for greater representation.”

She added that such an exercise aligns with the demands of changing times including urban development and population growth, enabling more effective regional development and public services.

Tnay said at present, state assemblypersons are tasked with overseeing large constituencies with significant populations, making it challenging to deliver effective development and services throughout their tenure

By dividing densely populated and rapidly developing areas into new constituencies, she said the original scope of representation could be shared by two elected representatives instead of one, thereby enhancing service delivery and development for residents.

“However, if DAP assemblymen lack the drive to actively bring development and serve the public, the size or population of their constituencies becomes irrelevant.”

Tnay further criticised DAP’s inconsistency, stating that while the party often highlights Sarawak’s infrastructure shortcomings, it simultaneously opposes initiatives such as the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system and new airport construction.

“They lament the hardships faced by the people but support the federal decision to expand the scope of the Sales and Services Tax (SST),” she said.

She also noted DAP Sarawak’s silence on key federal matters, including the Education Ministry’s lack of transparency regarding the costs of the national flag badge programme despite previously expressing concern over state expenditure.

“The Sarawak government remains resolute in its stance to increase not just state seats to foster better development and services for Sarawak and its people, but also parliamentary seats to align with the Malaysia Agreement 1963, ensuring Sarawak and Sabah each has one-third representation in Parliament,” she said.