Youth wing chief, Nicholas Wung dismisses DAP statement on string opposition

suppadmin | March 12, 2025

SUPP Kuching Youth Chief Nicholas Wung has dismissed Chong Chieng Jen’s recent statement calling for a strong opposition to check and balance GPS in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) as nothing more than a repetition of old rhetoric. Looking at the 2021 Sarawak election, DAP was left with only two seats, while local opposition parties attracted many votes that originally supported DAP. This shows that the opposition role is no longer exclusive to DAP. Even without DAP, Sarawak’s democracy will inevitably see other local opposition parties filling the gap.

Wung pointed out that during GE14, DAP won 6 seats in Sarawak, and PKR won 4 seats, totalling 10 seats, which should be strong enough. However, they failed to deliver any tangible benefits for Sarawak.

When Chong Chieng Jen was appointed as Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs by Tun Mahathir, he failed to fulfil his electoral promises. Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng cancelled three previously approved bridge projects and many allocations, and Chong remained silent.

Our Premier repeatedly pursued funds for repairing dilapidated schools for the safety of 436,000 teachers and students, but Lim Guan Eng said the federal government had insufficient fund and yet Chong did not dare to speak up. Moreover, in the 2021 budget, Sarawak received less federal allocation than Sabah, and DAP also did not dare to voice out. These examples prove that DAP in Sarawak is merely an agent, not bold enough to question the decisions of itsheadquarters in Peninsula.

Now, Chong Chieng Jen is once again stirring up the issues surrounding the Petroleum Development Act 1974. Our Youth Section challenged him to go to court over this Act or to collaborate with the other 39 DAP MPs to pressure Anwar to repeal it but Chong has not responded. Chong suggested in parliament that Petronas should cede 30% of its shares to Sarawak, but he did not explain how this would be achieved, essentially issuing a “blank cheque” to mislead the people. Recently, Chong has been distributing the Rocket newspapers; attempting to spread fear about Sarawak’s financial situation, virtually short of saying that Sarawak will go bankrupt.

Wung finally quoted the apology made by Anthony Loke and Lim Guan Eng to Abang Johari on 24thNovember 24, 2022. Lim Guan Eng stated that: “I apologize for offending the Sarawak Chief Minister and the GPS Government. The future of the country is more important. Let us make a fresh start to cooperate to preserve the diversity, inclusiveness, and unity of our multiracial and multicultural society as well as protect our Federal Constitution for the benefit of all in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.” The last sentence by Lim Guan Eng is worth Chong Chieng Jen’s deep reflection.

Does protecting the interests of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak under the Federal Constitution also include the Petroleum Development Act 1974? When there is a direct conflict of interest between East and West Malaysia, it is unrealistic to expect West Malaysian parties to truly speak for the people of Sarawak.