DUN Sarawak: Wilfred Yap satirizes Chong's position rejecting the mega project

KUCHING, 15 Oct: The stance of Sarawak DAP Chairman Chong Chieng Jen against three major infrastructure projects in Sarawak was described as a 'GOSTAN' policy by Sentosa City State Legislative Assembly Member Wilfred Yap Yau Sin.

He said the rejection of proposals for construction of new Kuching International Airport, Autonomous Transit Flow (ART) system and new seaports raised questions about Sarawak's readiness to provide infrastructure needed to meet future needs.

He said that Sarawak needs strategic investment to support economic growth rather than an approach that could lead to backward development of the state.

"The opposition parties have the right to criticize, but they also need to explain how Sarawak can achieve its economic aspirations without the infrastructure needed to support such growth.

"We must be disciplined in financial management, but never take steps that lead to us falling behind economically", he said while addressing Sarawak Budget 2027 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Conference, today.

Wilfred Yap said the state's GDP forecast of RM15.091 billion for 2027 reflects Sarawak's economic potential which needs to be supported by strategic and prudent infrastructure investment.

Commenting on the new airport's construction proposals, he said Sarawak should look beyond existing facility capacity taking into account long-term needs in aviation, tourism, trade and investment connectivity.

For the ART project, he said that prioritizing the addition of road lanes over the development of public transport system risks increasing the dependency of the population on private vehicles.

He also stressed that the existence of Bintulu Port should not be the only factor in assessing the need for new seaports.

On the other hand, he said, Sarawak's industrial needs, maritime sector and export activities in future should be considered to ensure that the developed port infrastructure is able to meet the state's economic demand.

However, Wilfred Yap insisted that each project should go through a proper feasibility study, supported by transparent financing and strict cost controls to ensure public money is spent responsibly.

He said that the financial discipline should move along with long-term development plans so that Sarawak can remain competitive and not miss economic growth opportunities.