Kuching: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) chairman Voon Lee Shan has raised four questions to DAP concerning the issue of self-determination for Sarawak and Sabah, but DAPSY Sarawak Deputy Chief Soo Tien Ren said the questions should instead be directed at SUPP, a component of the Sarawak government.
Soo questioned why PBK, which describes itself as an opposition party, was repeatedly asking DAP to explain its position while seemingly not directing the same scrutiny towards GPS, which governs Sarawak and holds the majority of seats in the State Legislative Assembly.
He said the fundamental duty of an opposition party was to scrutinise the government, question those in power and hold ruling parties accountable for their policies and political positions.
“Yet in recent years, PBK appears increasingly reluctant to direct its criticism towards GPS and SUPP. Instead, it repeatedly echoes the political narratives of SUPP while directing much of its fire at DAP,” he said.
Soo also pointed to recent statements by SUPP leaders, including Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, who said Sarawak’s future must be decided by Sarawakians.
“SUPP leaders have also repeatedly invoked slogans such as “Sarawak for Sarawakians” and used labels such as “Malayan parties” and “West Malaysian political forces” to attack DAP.
“At the same time, SUPP leaders, including Nicholas Wung and Amy Tnay, have repeatedly used narratives surrounding “Malayan parties” and “Sarawak first” to portray normal political competition as a confrontation between Sarawak and West Malaysia,” he said.
He questioned why PBK had not posed Voon’s four questions directly to SUPP.
“If PBK does not dare to ask, then DAP will ask,” he said.
Soo challenged SUPP to clarify whether it recognised the right of the peoples of Sarawak and Sabah to self-determination, supported parliamentary debate on their political and constitutional status, and supported allowing them to determine their political future through peaceful, democratic and lawful processes.
He also asked SUPP to explain the democratic, constitutional or legal basis if it rejected such a right.
“These are the very questions raised by Voon Lee Shan himself. If they are important questions, they cannot be selectively applied only to DAP while SUPP and GPS are exempted,” he said.
Soo added that there should be no double standards, stressing that if SUPP genuinely believed that “Sarawak’s future must be decided by Sarawakians”, it should clearly explain how far that principle extended.
“Finally, I have one message for PBK: A genuine opposition party scrutinises those who hold power. If PBK does not dare to ask, DAP will,” he said.
