Kuching: DAPSY Sarawak Secretary George Lam said Sarawakians do not necessarily need a change of government in the upcoming state election, but they do need a stronger opposition in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to ensure democratic checks and balances and government accountability.
In a statement, Lam said the Sarawak government is expected to continue governing with a two-thirds majority after the upcoming state election, and urged voters to consider electing more opposition representatives into the State Legislative Assembly.
He said a stronger opposition would not undermine political stability, but would instead strengthen Sarawak’s democratic system by ensuring that government policies and programmes remain subject to scrutiny.
“GPS is expected to continue governing Sarawak, and its people-centric policies will continue to be implemented. We do not deny that a stable government is important for long-term development and effective policy implementation. However, political stability and democratic oversight are not mutually exclusive.
“We need at least 10 opposition representatives in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly to speak up for the people, bring their concerns, suggestions, and problems into the Assembly, and raise questions and recommendations regarding government policies.
“In this way, the government can continue implementing its policies while also gaining a clearer understanding of the people’s actual needs and improving those policies based on feedback raised in the Assembly,” he said.
Lam argued that a government with a stable majority and an opposition with meaningful representation could perform complementary roles in a healthy democracy.
“A government with a stable majority can implement policies more effectively, while an opposition with a meaningful number of representatives can ensure that the government remains subject to scrutiny and accountability. These two roles are not contradictory.
“We do not want a government that is unable to govern. We want a government that can govern effectively, but must also be held accountable.
“Good policies can continue to be implemented under a GPS government. But the problems faced by the people, shortcomings in policy implementation, and issues that may have been overlooked by the government must also have someone in the State Legislative Assembly to raise them,” he said.
He said the opposition exists not to obstruct development, but to ensure that public concerns continue to be heard in the legislative process.
“This is precisely why the opposition exists. The opposition is not here to stop Sarawak from developing. Rather, we want to ensure that the people’s voices are not ignored in the development process, that the government hears different views when formulating and implementing policies, and that the interests of the people remain the top priority,” he said.
Lam concluded by calling on voters to support DAP Sarawak candidates in the upcoming election.
“Sarawakians do not necessarily need a change of government, but Sarawakians do need a stronger opposition.
“Having more opposition representatives in the State Legislative Assembly is not about weakening Sarawak. It is about building a healthier democratic system in Sarawak and ensuring that, while the government has the stability to govern effectively, it also remembers that it must always remain accountable to the people,” he said.
