Sarawak DAP stands in solidarity with Tiong King Sing

KUCHING, Oct 11 2025: Sarawak DAP stands in solidarity with Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing against any call for his resignation as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) over the serving of beer at a private-funded dinner organised in conjunction with the launch of Global Travel Meet (GTM) in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Chong Chieng Jen: Since Tiong King Sing was made the minister, Malaysia's tourism industry made a powerful comeback since 2023
 

Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said his party views that the call for Tiong’s resignation by the opposition is totally unwarranted as the minister has clearly explained in Parliament that the dinner where the alcoholic beverages were served was not a government official dinner paid for by MoTAC and as such there is no contravention of any government’s directive.  

“That dinner was a private-sector funded dinner and thus it is perfectly alright for him to attend,” Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said in a statement today.

“What more when the dinner was a celebration for the GTM event, which was projected to have generated over RM420 million in business impact for the country.

“Such performances and direct benefits to the country should be the main focus, rather than other sentiments that are not constructive and have the tendency to divide our multicultural and multi-religious country,” Chong said.

He said since Tiong was appointed as the minister under the Madani federal government, Malaysia’s tourism industry made a powerful comeback since 2023, collectively delivering nearly RM300 billion in tourism receipts.

He said from RM71.3 billion in 2023 to over RM100 billion in 2024, and projected to hit RM125 billion this year.

“With international arrivals climbing to 38 million in 2024 alone, a 31.1 per cent jump from the previous year, this shows how Malaysia is positioning itself as a global tourism beacon under the current Madani federal government,” he said.

He said between January until July 2025 this year, Malaysia has recorded a total of 28.2 million international arrivals, an increase of 14.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2024.

“After Tiong’s clarification in Parliament, any further call by the PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders for his resignation on the matter only shows that these leaders will stop at nothing to smear and discredit the federal government, including ignoring any meritorious performance of a minister and playing up divisive racial sentiment,” he said.

“Equally guilty as the PAS and PN leaders in fanning this divisive sentiment are the SUPP leaders who try to mislead the public into believing that the Sarawak state government allows and will pay for alcoholic beverages to be served in state official functions by saying “We drink whenever we want”.

“Throughout my 20 years attending the Sarawak state dinners as a Sarawak Legislative Member (SLM), not a single drop of alcohol was served in all those dinners.  

“It seems that the Sarawak state government also does not allow nor pay for alcoholic drinks to be served in state official dinners.

“I also do not think the SUPP leaders can “drink” alcohol “whenever they want” in those state dinners,” Chong quipped.

He urged SUPP to help to put the “Santubong” brand of beer back on the shelves, help the local entrepreneur and stop such narrow-minded religious extremism ideology from burgeoning in Sarawak.

 

ends

PBK president says it is a fallacy to think that one-third allocation of parliamentary seats will benefit Sarawak and Sabah

 KUCHING, Oct 11 2025: Sarawakians and Sabahans should not be happy with the allocation of the combined one-third of the total number of parliamentary seats to Sarawak and Sabah, Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has argued.

Voon Lee Shan says Sarawakians  should not be sure that MPs from Sarawak who represent Malayan parties will support  Sarawak and Sabah's interests when it comes to voting on constitutional issues that require the mandatory two-thirds majority in Parliament

He said  the one-third allocation of the parliamentary actually does not benefit the two Borneo regions while the two-thirds are still controlled by Malaya.

He said the one-third allocation is based on the assumption that all the parliamentary seats in Sarawak and Sabah are won by the local-born parties.

He said it is just a fallacy. 

He said Malayan-based political parties will also be competing for seats in Sarawak and Sabah.

“The argument that Malayan political parties will ensure only Sabahans and Sarawakians contest in Sabah and Sarawak for parliamentary seats is flawed,” Voon said in a statement, today.

“This is because our parliamentary system follows the Westminster parliamentary system whereby the Members of Parliament have to follow their party whips or party directions.

“This means that Sabahans and Sarawakians who win the parliamentary seats have to follow the directions of their parties in Malaya. Their allegiance, in that sense, is not with Sabah and Sarawak, but, Malaya,” he argued, adding that the one-third allocation will not be a safeguard to protect Sarawak and Sabah’s interests.

He said when it comes to voting on constitutional issues that affect the interests of Sarawak and Sabah and require mandatory two-thirds support of the total number of Members of Parliament,

the likelihood is that the Members of Parliament from Sarawak and Sabah will vote along party-line.

Voon suggested that Article 47 of the Federal Constitution relating to the qualifications of Members of Parliament should be amended to prohibit Malayans and Malayan political parties from contesting for parliamentary sears in Sarawak and Sabah.

“We need to think carefully that increasing the number of seats for Sarawak and Sabah would be like putting a rope to tie our necks, if Article 47 of the federal constitution is not amended,” he added.

“As it is now, unless disqualified under Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, Malayans and Malayan political parties can contest for any parliamentary seats in Sarawak and Sabah.

“At the same time, Article 16 of the Sarawak Constitution has to be amended too to prohibit all Malayan political parties to contest in the state elections.  Sabah should also do the same,” he added.

“As it is now in Sarawak, political parties from Malaya are not prohibited to contest in any state seats in Sarawak. Article 16 as it is now allows Malayans although born here to contest the state seats here.

“There are many Malayans, especially those in the government service, who are married to Sarawakians and have children here but after they have completed their tour of service, they have to go back to Malaya.

“Their children therefore, are citizens of Malaya, not Sarawak.

“By being in Sarawak should not qualify them as citizens of Sarawak. As it is, it seems that they qualify as citizens of Sarawak by operation of Article 16 of the Sarawak Constitution.

“Malayans tour of service here is not due to their own choice but due to duty. They should be disqualified from contesting in state seats in Sarawak.

“What will happen if political parties from Malaya are able to control the Sarawak Legislature? This will then allow Malayans to control Sarawak more easily,” he said, adding that it is a trap for Sarawakians to fall into.

Abang Johari explains why Sarawak govt is investing heavily on road networks

 KUCHING, Oct  11 2025: Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg explained the importance on the Sarawak government investing heavily to strengthen the infrastructure system throughout the state. 

Governor Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar cutting his 79th birthday cake, watched by Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari (second left).

“This is because without an efficient connectivity network, Sarawak’s economy will not be able to grow rapidly and inclusively,” he said at the 79^th birthday celebration of Governor Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar at Central Padang here.

“In addition to the Pan Borneo Highway project, Sarawak is also developing the Second Trunk Road (STR) which will shorten the distance and travel time between Sibu and Kuching,” he said.

He added the 225-kilometre STR, which starts from the Samarahan bridge and connects to the Pan Borneo Highway at the Roban Interchange, is expected to be completed in 2028 at a cost of RM5.58 billion.

He said at the same time, the 896-kilometre Coastal Highway is being constructed and is expected to be completed in 2027 at a cost of RM5.42 billion.

“This route will connect the coastal areas from Kota Samarahan, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau,

Kabong, Tanjung Manis, Daro, Matu, Igan, Oya, Mukah, Balingian, Bintulu to Miri, before

connecting with the Pan Borneo Highway,” he said.

The premier said that infrastructure development also involves Northern Sarawak up to the Sabah border.

He said recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road Phase 2 (SSLR2) project.

He said the SSLR Phase 2 project will provide a new alignment to facilitate movement between Miri, Marudi, Mulu, Limbang, Lawas and Ba’ Kelalan directly to Sabah without going through Brunei via SSLR Phase 1.

“With a length of 335 kilometres and a cost of RM7.6 billion, this project is expected to be completed by mid- 2029,” he added.

Abang Johari said the state government is also implementing various initiatives to upgrade logging roads in the inland areas, especially in Kapit and Ulu Baram.

“All these projects will certainly strengthen connectivity in the northern areas of Sarawak and

open up new economic potential, especially in the agricultural and rural tourism sectors,” he said.