Latest news with #SarawakDemocraticActionParty
Borneo Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
DAP's seat increase opposition shows lack of vision for Sarawak, says SUPP woman
Tnay claims 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'. 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
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Introduce National Insurance Scheme to ensure universal care, says Sarawak DAP
Brolin says that healthcare costs are becoming increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens. KUCHING (July 5): The Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) has urged the government to introduce a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to address rising medical inflation and safeguard access to essential care for Malaysians. Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii's special officer, Brolin Nicholsion, said that healthcare costs are becoming increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens. 'This alarming trend underscores the urgent need to explore a comprehensive NIS to ensure no one is left behind when illness strikes,' he said in a statement yesterday. Brolin added that while existing programmes — like the Social Security Organisation (Socso), Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), MySalam, and Peka B40 — are valuable, they remain fragmented and fail to sufficiently cover the informal workforce, gig workers, and self-employed individuals. He thus calls for a well-structured NIS to integrate these efforts, pooling contributions from both formal and informal sectors to provide universal access to healthcare, basic income protection, and long-term security for all Malaysians. According to Brolin, countries like South Korea and China-Taiwan have shown that a national insurance model can succeed with political will and smart design. 'South Korea transformed its fragmented system into a unified National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), covering its entire population through a tiered contribution system. 'Meanwhile, Taiwan had built one of the most efficient single-payer systems in the world, balancing equity, quality and affordability through universal participation and low administrative costs. 'These models demonstrate how Malaysia could also transition toward a sustainable, inclusive healthcare safety net,' he added. Brolin also emphasised that strong governance and trust via transparent fund management, citizen oversight, and independent audits must be ensured towards this end. He said the proposed NIS must align with existing systems like Socso and EPF to avoid duplication and overburdening, adding: 'It should start with targeted groups such as B40 gig workers or recent graduates before nationwide implementation.' 'The proposed NIS is not just a healthcare policy, but a nation-building strategy. It will protect vulnerable families from rising costs, empower youth and informal workers with real safety nets, and foster a fairer and more resilient Malaysia. 'The longer we wait, the more people fall through the cracks,' he added. Brolin Nicholsion dap National Insurance Scheme
Borneo Post
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
DAP man slams delay in reopening Jln Riam Lama, cites poor workmanship and safety risks
Ling at Jalan Riam Lama which has remained partially closed for several months following a landslide. MIRI (July 3): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary Alan Ling has urged the Miri Public Works Department (JKR) to expedite the full reopening of Jalan Riam Lama, which has remained partially closed for several months following a landslide. He said the incident was initially triggered by a burst underground pipeline belonging to LAKU, which subsequently damaged the culvert structure in the affected area. 'Although the culvert was finally installed after a long delay and the road was resurfaced – as confirmed by JKR on 24 June – the road is still not fully open to the public,' he said in a statement yesterday. Describing the prolonged delay as 'extremely disappointing', Ling stressed that Jalan Riam Lama is a vital route for residents in the area and urged authorities to ensure that repair works are completed promptly and up to standards. He also raised concerns over the absence of roadside safety barriers, pointing out that these could have been installed earlier when the erosion first occurred. 'Despite the urgency of the situation, it is unacceptable that the road has yet to be made fully operational. The delay in installing safety barriers raises further questions about the project's management,' he added. Following a site visit on Monday, Ling lodged a complaint through the Talikhidmat platform and followed up on the current status of the works. He said residents have expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress, especially regarding public safety and daily inconvenience. In response, JKR informed Ling that substandard work by the appointed subcontractor had contributed to the delay. The department has since instructed the contractor to redo the road surfacing, with remedial works expected to begin in the coming days, weather and material availability permitting. 'JKR must act immediately to ensure the road is safe for public use. The subcontractor responsible for the poor workmanship should face appropriate penalties, as their failure has directly caused the prolonged closure,' Ling said. He added that the situation constitutes an emergency and called for stricter oversight moving forward. 'Now we have to wait again. Who will be held accountable if an accident occurs? This is no longer a natural disaster – it is human negligence. The public should not have to suffer due to substandard repair work,' he said. Alan Ling dap Jalan Riam Lama miri
Borneo Post
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Call for urgent action on soil erosion threat in Miri's Taman Lai Pau
Ling points to the torn canvas used to cover the eroded slope in Taman Lai Pau. MIRI (June 19): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary Alan Ling has urged the Miri City Council (MCC) to take immediate and decisive action to address a serious case of soil erosion in Taman Lai Pau, which has been troubling residents since early January this year. Ling said he received numerous complaints from residents regarding a landslide caused by soil erosion during the rainy season earlier this year. The incident reportedly led to a significant amount of soil slipping into the drainage system, blocking water flow and posing a risk of drain collapsing. 'This issue is extremely concerning and could potentially endanger the safety of those living nearby,' he said, adding that residents have repeatedly lodged complaints, fearing the worsening of the erosion. He said he had formally written to the MCC regarding the issue and also forwarded a copy of the letter to the Land and Survey Department Miri in late April, shortly after residents alerted him to the problem. However, Ling expressed disappointment that no follow-up action has been taken to date. In addition to the formal letter, he said a report was also submitted through the Talikhidmat complaint system in an effort to draw the attention of the relevant authorities. He highlighted that the canvas used to temporarily cover the eroded area has since torn due to prolonged exposure, worsening the situation. 'Every time it rains, more soil flows into the drain, causing further blockages and increasing the risk of the drainage system collapsing,' he explained. Ling warned that continued delays by the authorities could lead to a disaster that may cost lives. 'We cannot afford to wait until a tragedy happens before taking this seriously. The safety and well-being of the residents must be a priority,' he stressed. In view of this, Ling urged MCC and other responsible agencies to take proactive and effective steps to resolve the issue before the next rainy season arrives. 'This is an emergency. It must be treated with urgency and not be pushed aside,' he added. Alan Ling landslide lead miri soil erosion Taman Lai Pau
Borneo Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
S'wak DAP chief commends swift action by JKR, ministers over Jln Stakan bridge Issue
Photo shows some red tape and warning signs that have been put in place to warn the public of the integrity of the bridge. KUCHING (May 4): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen has given the state Public Works Department (JKR) a pat on the back for immediately addressing the integrity of the bridge near the Jalan Stakan Badminton Hall. The Stampin MP extended his gratitude to state JKR director Dr Cassidy Morris for quickly deploying engineers to the site to inspect the bridge's integrity. He also thanked Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah for swiftly responding to his complaint channelled via WhatsApp. 'Last night at around 9pm, I received a phone call from a resident at Jalan Stakan, informing that there was some sinkage at the connecting part of the bridge and the road. 'I immediately contacted the two state ministers and the director of state JKR. All three responded almost immediately and inspection was carried out shortly last night,' he said in a statement yesterday. Chong said his service team visited the site and saw that red tape and some warning signs had been put up to warn the public. He hoped that an announcement on the integrity of the bridge structure will be made to inform the public in due course. 'There should also be a follow up on the repair work, which ought to be implemented quickly as this is one of the main roads connecting the Mile 7 bazaar to Muara Tuang road. 'Until such time, if possible, members of the public should try to avoid using that section of the road,' added Chong. bridge Chong Chieng Jen dap Jalan Stakan jkr lead
