Kuching: Genuine reform cannot be reduced to new policies or infrastructure projects, but must be backed by stronger legislative oversight, transparency and government accountability, DAP Stampin Resettlement Scheme Chairman Chua Wen How said.
Responding to Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap’s repeated claims that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is reform-oriented and should serve as a model for the Federal Government, Chua questioned why the Sarawak Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) still has no opposition representation and is not chaired by an opposition assemblyman.
“The purpose of parliamentary oversight is to hold the government accountable, not for the government to supervise itself,” he said.
Chua said the same principle should apply to other Select Committees in the State Legislative Assembly, where greater bipartisan participation would strengthen checks and balances and improve public confidence in government spending and decision-making.
A government genuinely committed to reform, he said, must be willing to accept scrutiny, criticism and differing views.
“Before asking the Federal Government to reform, GPS should first examine whether Sarawak itself has established a credible and effective system of legislative oversight.
“Real reform is not measured only by how many policies or development projects a government delivers, but by whether those in power are willing to build a system that holds themselves accountable. Only a government willing to be scrutinised can truly call itself a reform government,” Chua said.
