Adam Yii Says Sarawak Must Stay Firm on Its Own Development Path

suppadmin | December 21, 2025

Sarawak United Peoples Party central publicity secretary Adam Yii said the recent federal Cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of two Members of Parliament from Sarawak Pakatan Harapan as deputy ministers should be viewed with caution rather than celebration.

In a statement, Yii said that on the surface the appointments appeared to signal greater federal attention to Sarawak’s voice. However, when examined within a broader political context, he described the move as a calculated political manoeuvre rather than a genuine contribution to Sarawak’s long term development.

He said following Pakatan Harapan’s heavy defeat in the Sabah by election, the coalition was eager to stabilise its political position in East Malaysia to prevent a similar outcome in the next Sarawak state election.

The appointment of deputy ministers from Sarawak Pakatan Harapan, he added, was intended to send a signal that Sarawak was being valued, to reassure supporters and to strengthen the coalition’s position ahead of future political contests.

“However, the people of Sarawak must be clear that these deputy minister appointments are acts of political expediency,” Yii said. “They do not represent a genuine devolution of power. They are symbolic compensation rather than real commitments to development.”

Yii stressed that what Sarawak has long sought are substantive powers, resources and policy autonomy. This includes rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, independent decision making in areas such as energy and education, and a fairer distribution of financial resources.

He said federal political considerations often differ fundamentally from Sarawak’s actual needs. Sarawak, he noted, is at a critical stage of development, steadily advancing under the Post Covid Development Strategy 2030 through initiatives in the hydrogen economy, green industries, renewable energy, education autonomy, digital transformation and rural infrastructure development.
“This is Sarawak’s own blueprint, planned by Sarawak, implemented by Sarawak and safeguarded by Sarawak,” he said.

Yii urged the public to shift focus from who is appointed at the federal level to what Sarawak truly needs. He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak government has demonstrated stability, strong execution and long term planning, while federal political arrangements often change according to circumstances and elections, making them difficult to align with Sarawak’s development pace.

Sarawak, he said, has shown that maintaining policy continuity and attracting international investment requires reducing dependence on Peninsular based political dynamics.
“Our future is not built on how many positions the federal government gives us, but on our determination to continue pursuing a Sarawak first path,” Yii added that no matter how the political landscape changes, Sarawak’s development must not be dictated by political winds from elsewhere.

He warned against allowing symbolic appointments to dilute Sarawak’s pursuit of genuine autonomy and long term development, or allowing external political manoeuvres to disrupt the state’s progress.