DAP accepts MBKS Mayor’s challenge, seeks approval to upgrade Bas.My bus stops

Kong holding the official letter to seek consent for bus stops upgrading in front of MBKS headquarters in Jalan Padungan on June 5, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 5: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman’s special assistant Michael Kong has submitted an official letter to Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng seeking formal consent to upgrade bus stops along the Bas.My Kuching routes, saying the move is aimed at countering allegations that DAP is merely “politicking” or making empty statements.

Kong said the request was made in response to Wee’s recent public challenge for political parties and other parties to undertake certain community projects, particularly by sourcing their own funding and handling implementation.

“Since he has openly stated that he is willing to allow others to undertake such projects, we are now accepting that challenge openly and transparently,” he said in a statement today.

However, Kong claimed that despite Wee’s public remarks, previous attempts by him and DAP representatives to undertake community projects using their own funding had either been rejected or ignored by MBKS.

He cited an earlier proposal to construct a futsal court at Lorong 2, Stampin Resettlement Scheme for the benefit of local youths and residents, which he said was rejected by the council.

Kong also said he had offered to personally fund and carry out clearing works for neglected earth drains in the Stampin Resettlement Scheme due to long-standing drainage issues faced by residents.

“Yet again, MBKS refused to even entertain our simple request,” he alleged.

Most recently, Kong said he had approached all local councils in Kuching, including MBKS, seeking approval to upgrade bus stops used by the Bas.My Kuching service as part of efforts to improve and promote public transportation.

According to him, the proposed upgrades would be fully funded by DAP and private sector partners without involving public funds or imposing any financial burden on the councils.

“However, until today, MBKS has not been forthcoming with any response or approval,” he said.

Kong argued that local authorities should facilitate community-driven initiatives that bring benefits to the public at no cost to taxpayers.

“If private parties and community leaders are willing to step forward, source funding, and improve public facilities at no cost to taxpayers, then MBKS should facilitate such efforts rather than obstruct or delay them,” he said.

He added that the latest letter seeking approval for the bus stop upgrading project would allow the public to assess whether the Mayor’s earlier challenge was genuinely intended to encourage public participation or was merely political rhetoric.

“The ball is now in Wee Hong Seng’s court. If he is sincere in his public challenge, then MBKS should have no issue granting the necessary approvals for us to proceed with these public-benefit projects,” Kong said. — DayakDaily