Sarawak Polls: Give Opposition reps equal allocation, says candidate

KUCHING: Sarawak Opposition assemblymen should be given equal allocation as government representatives, says DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii.

The Bandar Kuching MP, who is contesting in Batu Kawah in the Dec 18 state election, said Opposition assemblymen in Sarawak currently do not receive any funds for their constituencies.

“Whether an elected representative is from the government or Opposition, they should receive the same amount of allocation as no Sarawakians should be left behind.

“Currently, constituencies held by the Opposition get nothing in terms of allocation.

“People have the right to choose their representatives and they should not be punished or be deprived of development for electing the Opposition.

“The people of Sarawak deserve a stronger democracy. The use of developmental politics as a threat against the people, where resources are only allocated to government-friendly assemblymen, should be a thing of the past,” he told a press conference here on Thursday (Dec 9).

The demand for equal allocation is one of the state assembly reforms that DAP is calling for in Sarawak.

Other reforms advocated by the party include extending the duration of state assembly meetings.

“Currently, the Sarawak assembly only convenes twice a year with each meeting lasting approximately 10 days.

“This is insufficient to cover the breadth of issues concerning Sarawakians. More sitting days should be added, so that each and every assemblyman has an opportunity to raise issues more comprehensively, discuss them with ministers and come up with holistic solutions.

“If we can meet for more days and produce good solutions to issues in each constituency, the people of Sarawak only stand to benefit from this,” he said.

Dr Yii also proposed the introduction a chief minister’s reply session.

“A special designated day, perhaps once a week, should be set where the chief minister himself will come to the august hall to answer questions directly from assemblymen from both sides of the political divide,” he said.

DAP is contesting 26 seats in the state polls.