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By DayakDaily Team KUCHING, Oct 27: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin strongly criticises the Democratic Action Party (DAP) over its proposal to redefine “natives” to include all third-generation Sarawakians of Chinese, Indian, or other descent. Following the recent DAP Sarawak Convention, Yap issued a statement today asserting that true equality must not be achieved at the expense of established constitutional rights. While such a proposal may sound appealing, he warned that it “ignores the importance of protecting the special constitutional status and cultural rights of Sarawak’s indigenous people.” “As the assemblyman for Kota Sentosa, I serve people of all backgrounds: Malay, Dayak, Chinese, Indian, and others—because true leadership is about fairness, not factional politics,” he said. He argued that true equality is about ensuring equal access to opportunities without undermining the heritage and identity of others. “Sarawak’s strength has always come from our diversity, not uniformity,” said Yap. He noted that DAP, which serves as the backbone of the Pakatan Harapan-led Federal government with numerous ministerial posts, should focus on translating its words into action nationally. “If DAP truly believes that third-generation Sarawakians of Chinese, Indian, or other descent should be recognised as “native/bumiputra,” then it should demand this policy be implemented at the Federal level, where they actually have the power to do so.” He called it disingenuous for DAP to criticise Sarawak’s policies while failing to deliver on long-standing national promises. In contrast to DAP’s “political rhetoric,” Yap highlighted that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government delivers social justice through concrete systems. He cited the fully automated e-Recruitment system for State civil service as a guarantee of “fair, merit-based hiring without political or racial interference.” Yap also noted that the GPS government has already recognised the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) for State civil service entry—a significant promise he claims DAP failed to fulfil nationally despite holding power in Putrajaya. “If DAP truly believes in education fairness and inclusivity, it should start by honouring its own promises nationally before preaching to others,” he asserted. Yap also defended Sarawak’s fiscal record, noting that the State’s revenue has more than doubled from RM6 billion in 2016 to RM14.2 billion in 2024, a figure he credited to strong governance, prudent fiscal management, and economic diversification. He highlighted that Sarawak maintains one of Malaysia’s highest credit ratings (AAA) and stressed that development funds are channelled back into infrastructure, rural development, education, and healthcare for the people’s benefit. He added that entities such as the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) and Petros embody transparent, innovative financing, empowering Sarawak to grow sustainably without overburdening taxpayers. “That is real accountability: progress you can measure, not promises you forget.” He affirmed that Sarawak’s success lies in its unity, with the GPS government’s development agenda being inclusive, practical, and people-centred. The Kota Sentosa assemblyman stressed that politics that divide people or exploit emotions for votes have no place in Sarawak’s future; what matters are results, not rhetoric. —DayakDaily
