DAP's seat increase opposition shows lack of vision for Sarawak, says SUPP woman
KUCHING (July 11): Sarawak Democratic Action Party's (DAP) opposition to the proposed increase in state seats suggests it lacks commitment to improving services for the people or envisioning a better Sarawak, said Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Batu Kitang secretary Amy Tnay.
She claimed that DAP 'opposes any matters or decisions beneficial to Sarawak's development', reflecting what she described as the opposition party's 'typical peninsula-centric mindset'.
'The State Legislative Assembly merely proposed and passed a bill to increase seats, paving the way for the Election Commission to delineate new constituencies,' she said in a statement yesterday.
'No specific regions were mentioned or finalised for delineation, and DAP's resistance even at this preliminary stage demonstrates its opposition to Sarawak's need for greater representation.'
She added that such an exercise aligns with the demands of changing times including urban development and population growth, enabling more effective regional development and public services.
Tnay said at present, state assemblypersons are tasked with overseeing large constituencies with significant populations, making it challenging to deliver effective development and services throughout their tenure
By dividing densely populated and rapidly developing areas into new constituencies, she said the original scope of representation could be shared by two elected representatives instead of one, thereby enhancing service delivery and development for residents.
'However, if DAP assemblymen lack the drive to actively bring development and serve the public, the size or population of their constituencies becomes irrelevant.'
Tnay further criticised DAP's inconsistency, stating that while the party often highlights Sarawak's infrastructure shortcomings, it simultaneously opposes initiatives such as the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system and new airport construction.
'They lament the hardships faced by the people but support the federal decision to expand the scope of the Sales and Services Tax (SST),' she said.
She also noted DAP Sarawak's silence on key federal matters, including the Education Ministry's lack of transparency regarding the costs of the national flag badge programme despite previously expressing concern over state expenditure.
'The Sarawak government remains resolute in its stance to increase not just state seats to foster better development and services for Sarawak and its people, but also parliamentary seats to align with the Malaysia Agreement 1963, ensuring Sarawak and Sabah each has one-third representation in Parliament,' she said. amy tnay dap increase state seats lead oppose SUPP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
Sabah leaders not amused as businesses fume
Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 Text Size: Dr Jeffrey (left) and Dr Joachim (right) both disagreed with the move. Kota Kinabalu: Businesses are not the only ones unhappy over the sudden declaration of an additional public holiday on the eve of Malaysia Day on September 16 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Even Sabah politicians who have been in the forefront of regaining Sabah's rights in the Malaysia Agreement they claim have been ignored over the decades by Federal are not amused. They said the Sept. 15 holiday is not necessary. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan from Star and Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam of PBS both disagreed with the move. 'Personally, I feel Malaysia, especially Sabah, has too many holidays already,' Dr Gunsalam, who is Parti Bersatu Sabah President, said. Dr Jeffrey said Malaysia Day is already a national holiday and there is no need to declare another day on Sept. 15. 'For Sabah and Sarawak at this juncture, we want the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and its rights under the Constitution to be fully implemented. 'That should be the priority,' he said. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee also said the extra day is unnecessary. Cuepacs Executive Laurence Vun said any holiday would be welcomed by workers but felt a holiday on the eve of Malaysia Day might not help the spirit of Malaysia. 'I don't think an additional holiday would bring any significance to the meaning of Malaysia Day. 'For Sabahans and Sarawakians, we feel Malaysia Day should be marked to make all Malaysians equal in every sense of the word – in our civil service as well as all sectors of government and private enterprise,' said Vun. Employers must comply with the declaration of additional public holiday in conjunction with this year's Malaysia Day celebration, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong had said. He said employers could observe the additional public holiday and pay the regular salary, or instruct their employees to work and pay according to the public holiday rates. 'Employers can also opt to give a replacement holiday on another day if their employees are required to work on that public holiday. 'To ensure the implementation of the additional public holiday is fair and organised, the Department of Labour (JTK) is prepared to provide advisory services as well as answer any queries from employers and employees regarding the implementation of this additional public holiday,' he said. The implementation of the additional holiday is subject to provisions under Section 60D(1) of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) for Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan; the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Chapter 67), the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Chapter 76) and the Holidays Act 1951 (Act 369) as the basis for the announcement of the official additional holiday by the government. Employers or employees requiring further information can contact the JTKSM via its hotline at 03-8886 5192 / 5937, by email at [email protected], or at any nearby JTK offices. An employers' group and a business association expressed concern over the impact the additional public holiday may have on business operations. The Malaysian Employers Federation said the extra public holiday warrants careful reconsideration because of its financial and operational impact as such holidays disrupt production schedules, logistics chains, and service continuity. 'This disruption results in lower output, delays in fulfilling delivery commitments, increased costs from rescheduling or deferring operations, and reduced overall productivity, especially for SMEs already operating on tight margins,' MEF said. It also said additional public holidays translate to increased wage bills, with preliminary estimates suggesting that each extra holiday could cost Malaysian employers over RM1 billion collectively. MEF said the practice of declaring ad hoc public holidays, often without broad stakeholder consultation, may affect Malaysia's image as a predictable and business-friendly destination. Noting that investors seek clarity and certainty in policymaking, it warned that repeated instances of surprise public holidays risk undermining investor confidence, particularly among foreign investors. 'While MEF appreciates national celebrations and commemorations, such observances must be balanced with economic realities and the long-term competitiveness of Malaysian businesses,' it said. Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) president William Ng said that while he appreciates the symbolic importance of celebrating Malaysia Day, additional public holidays, especially those announced on short notice, can be disruptive for SMEs. He said the added holiday would increase costs for SMEs in terms of lost productivity, overtime pay, and delivery delays. 'We urge the government to conduct impact assessments before declaring unscheduled holidays,' he said. Ng also welcomed the encouraging economic indicators shared by Anwar in his address, particularly stronger GDP growth, improved global competitiveness rankings, and a more stable ringgit. 'However, we urge the government to ensure that the benefits of this growth are meaningfully felt by the SME sector, which continues to face persistent challenges in accessing financing, addressing labour shortages, and adapting to rising operational costs,' he said. The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has called on the government to urgently gazette the September 15 public holiday to provide legal clarity to employers. The additional holiday has triggered concerns within the manufacturing sector over compliance and planning, the group said. FMM said many businesses remain unclear whether the holiday falls under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Holidays Act 1951, which would affect their obligations under the Employment Act 1955. 'This is critical to provide legal clarity and enable businesses to plan operations, workforce scheduling, and ensure compliance with the Employment Act 1955,' said FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai. The group warned that manufacturers operating on shift-based or continuous cycles face higher risks from such unplanned disruptions. The four-day stretch from Saturday to Tuesday may force production lines to halt and restart, which FMM said would be inefficient and costly. It added that the cascading effects on supply chains, logistics and delivery timelines would be especially difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage. FMM advised employers to prepare buffer stock, adjust schedules, and communicate with workers, customers and suppliers to minimise operational risks. The group also reminded businesses to monitor the gazette and consider using the substitution option under Section 8, if applicable. It then reiterated its view that 'policy announcements must reflect clarity, consistency, certainty, and credibility,' adding that ad hoc decisions could undermine Malaysia's attractiveness to investors. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
‘Losses will impact rakyat'
THE nation's fiscal stability will be jeopardised if the proposed expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) is deferred, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said such a move would result in the government missing its revenue target and impacting its ability to discharge its responsibilities towards the rakyat. 'The revision of the sales tax rate and the expansion of the SST scope, which took effect on July 1, is expected to generate additional revenue of RM5bil over the six months of 2025 and RM10bil in 2026,' he said in a written parliamentary reply to a question raised by Lim Guan Eng (PN-Bagan) in Dewan Rakyat. Lim asked whether the SST expansion could be deferred in light of the United States tariffs and the current economic slowdown. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthen the nation's fiscal position through tax reforms. He said this was crucial in ensuring sustainable revenue to support development and social programmes, despite growing public concern over the rising cost of living. He also added that several measures are in place to cushion the impact of SST on people and businesses. Among them was the RM13bil allocation for STR/SARA (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah/Sumbangan Asas Rahmah) cash aid programmes, up from RM10bil compared to 2024. Also increased was the allocation for the Education Ministry from RM59bil last year to RM64bil in 2025, while the allocation for the Health Ministry was also increased from RM41bil to RM45bil, which would help in the hiring of contract doctors. He also said that service tax exemptions will be granted to tenants classified as small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with annual sales of less than RM1mil. For construction service providers, he said the threshold for service tax compliance has been increased from RM500,000 to RM1.5mil over 12 months to ease the compliance burden on smaller contractors. This same threshold applies to small-scale private healthcare clinics to protect them from undue tax pressures. On the breakdown of the additional tax revenue, particularly those borne by locals and foreigners as requested by Lim, Anwar said this cannot be done as it is impossible to accurately determine the breakdown because the national revenue collection system does not categorise contributions based on the taxpayer's citizenship.
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Cash aid welcome, but long-term tax reform more vital, says Kuching South councillor
Tay emphasises that empowering citizens through tax reform and income relief mechanisms would have a more lasting impact than one-time cash incentives. – Bernama photo KUCHING (July 25): The Madani government should prioritise long-term, sustainable fiscal strategies over short-term cash handouts when designing aid packages for Malaysians, said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Councillor Eric Tay. In response to the federal government's recent announcement of a one-off RM100 cash assistance for every Malaysian aged 18 and above, Tay noted that while he does not oppose short-term aid, such measures should be integrated into a broader, more sustainable economic framework. 'A truly caring government doesn't ask how much to give, but ensures how much the people can keep,' Tay said in a statement. He emphasised that empowering citizens through tax reform and income relief mechanisms would have a more lasting impact than one-time cash incentives. 'Winning hearts with handouts is only short-term. Empowering citizens through tax relief could be the real answer,' he said. 'While such assistance may ease short-term burdens, it fails to address long-term financial pressures faced by ordinary citizens,' he added. For that, he called for the government to strengthen fiscal transparency, reform the tax structure, and simplify aid delivery to reduce bureaucracy and wastage. 'RM100 may help in the short term – buying some rice or petrol – but it doesn't solve the structural issue of tax burden,' he noted. 'Instead of cash handouts, the government should focus on meaningful tax reform.' With the Sales and Service Tax (SST) now raised to 8 per cent, Tay pointed out that many in the middle class are facing mounting financial pressure. He proposed gradual tax reductions, including raising income tax thresholds and easing burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as more effective ways to stimulate economic growth. 'These (steps) would better stimulate the economy and promote long-term self-reliance,' he added. cash handouts Eric Tay SARA
