KUCHING: The recent appointment of a Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak MP as a deputy minister has sparked criticism, being seen as a significant departure from the party’s previous position against seeking executive power, according to Dato Sim Kiang Chiok.
The chairman of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan noted that in 2022, DAP Sarawak leaders openly assured the people of Sarawak that they had no intentions of holding such positions at the federal level.
Concerns Over Credibility
Sim emphasized that the DAP Sarawak leaders had consistently maintained that they preferred to remain backbenchers in Parliament, aiming to build public trust and differentiate themselves from their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia.
“However, in 2025, that commitment has been conveniently overlooked. The appointment of a DAP Sarawak MP as a Deputy Minister is a clear and undeniable reversal,” he stated.
“This is not merely a coincidental administrative change — it contradicts the promises made to the people of Sarawak,” he added, following the recent Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Political Implications
The reshuffle resulted in DAP Sarawak vice chairman and Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol being appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.
Sim urged voters to reconsider the credibility of the party’s commitments, indicating that this reversal reflects a troubling pattern of unfulfilled promises.
He highlighted the long-standing promise of 20 percent oil and gas royalties, which remains unfulfilled, alongside the ongoing lack of national recognition for the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), despite its recognition by the Sarawak government over a decade ago for state service entry.
Political analyst Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan noted that these federal appointments seem strategically designed to bolster DAP and PKR in Sarawak ahead of the upcoming state elections, raising concerns that Sarawak is being treated as a political testing ground for parties based in Malaya.
In contrast, Sim pointed out that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which includes Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and SUPP, has consistently advocated for governance by Sarawak-based parties that are accountable solely to Sarawakians.
“Our stance on Sarawak’s rights, autonomy, and resources has always remained firm,” he concluded, urging the people of Sarawak to stay vigilant and remember past promises when evaluating political changes.
“Promises matter. Consistency matters. Sarawak must always come first,” he reaffirmed.
The post DAP Sarawak federal appointment a controversial U-turn, says SUPP man appeared first on Borneo Post Online.
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