Kuching: Special Assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian, has criticised Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Wilfred Yap for what he described as “illogical deflection” in addressing illegal gambling issues in Sarawak.
Michael Kong alleged that Yap’s recent statement exemplified SUPP’s tactic of “shifting blame while pretending to be powerless.”
He argued that if a state assemblyman (ADUN) claims to have no authority over local councils, it would be equally unreasonable to expect a Member of Parliament (MP) to compel police action.
“What YB Chong Chieng Jen did in Parliament was his job as Stampin’s MP. He took the opportunity to raise the issue at the federal level, using constituencies like Batu Kawah, Batu Kitang, and Kota Sentosa merely as illustrations of the bigger problem affecting Sarawak as a whole.
“In doing so, Chong Chieng Jen spoke up against this societal ill and did what no SUPP MP or ADUN has dared,” he said in a statement.
Michael Kong also pointed out that local councils, such as the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), possess the authority to revoke trading licenses for non-compliance and to seal off premises engaged in prohibited activities.
“During Covid-19, MBKS threatened to revoke the business licences of operators who breached SOPs. On 18 June 2022, MBKS warned that hawkers continuing to use plastic straws after 1 July 2022 risked losing their licences.
“Even on 1 June 2017, MPP revoked the licences of four operators for engaging in illegal gambling activities. These examples prove that local councils can take firm action when they choose to. However, now they simply lack the will to act against these elicit activities,” he said.
He further noted that Chong had spoken on the issue in Parliament, while Yap had never raised it in the Sarawak State Assembly; instead, he appears more focused on shutting down Opposition voices with Standing Orders or issuing statements in support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“With power comes responsibility. SUPP’s leaders have the authority but have consistently chosen not to act. The real failure lies in their refusal to take the bull by the horns.
“I urge the local councils to immediately clamp down on these illegal activities instead of passing the buck to the police. Every level of government has a role to play, and it is time the local councils also do their part,” he said.
