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Free Malaysia Today
12-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Sarawak still not ready for foreign investors, says DAP rep
An assemblyman in Sarawak says many foreign investors have approached her with complaints about the investment process in the state. (Bernama pic) KUCHING : A Sarawak assemblyman has raised concerns over Sarawak's readiness to host foreign investors, despite the state being marketed as an attractive destination. Pending assemblyman Violet Yong of DAP claims many foreign investors encounter major hurdles upon their arrival. She said these include the lack of proper infrastructure and haphazard coordination among the relevant departments and agencies. Yong said many foreigners were keen on investing in the state following the hype generated by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government. 'But the problem is when they come to Sarawak, the state is not ready. There are no facilities or sufficient power to set up their operations immediately,' she told FMT, adding that many of these foreign investors had approached her with complaints. She also claimed that prospective investors were often left in the dark about basic requirements. 'The common questions are 'Where is the site for me to set up my factory? Is there sufficient power? How do I go about applying?',' she said. According to Yong, the state lacked a one-stop centre to help investors get set up. Although the state agency Invest Sarawak provided some guidance, the process remained too cumbersome and time-consuming. 'They can guide you, but the process is too tedious. 'For example, if someone wanted to set up a data centre, they would have to write to the land and survey department and after that, check if there is sufficient power supply,' she said. She added that aother hurdle is the numerous licences needed. Yong said she had been told by some potential investors that they ended up investing their money elsewhere because of the hurdles they faced in Sarawak. 'I was made to understand that they could not wait and decided to go to Penang or Vietnam,' she said, adding that she had raised the issue in May at the state assembly. Yong claimed the state government was more focused on promotion than preparing for the right facilities and processes for investors.
Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sarawak opposition leader booted from state assembly over seat increase row
Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen left the Sarawak state assembly after he refused to comply with the speaker's instruction to sit down during a backbencher's debate. PETALING JAYA : Sarawak opposition leader Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) was kicked out from the state assembly today for interrupting a backbencher's debate on a proposal to increase the number of state seats. Chong had stood up to interject while Lo Khere Chiang (GPS-Batu Kitang) was speaking. At the time, Lo had accused Chong and fellow opposition member Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) of opposing Sarawak's efforts to expand its parliamentary representation. Chong in turn accused Lo of lying as both he and Yong had said in their earlier debates that the priority should be to demand an increase in Sarawak's parliamentary seats, not in the state assembly. Chong maintained that both he and Yong would support any move to strengthen Sarawak's representation in the Dewan Rakyat. Speaker Asfia Awang Nassar told Chong to sit down after Lo had refused to yield to him on a point of order. Asfia said Lo was merely rebutting Chong's debate against increasing the number of assembly members earlier. Chong slammed the assembly rule book on his desk several times, demanding that he be heard on a point of order. Asfia asked him to be quiet, but Chong refused. 'If you continue to do this, I will send you out. That is it, I am sending you out,' the speaker said. The sergeant-at-arms was told to remove Chong forcibly, if needed. Chong packed up his belongings and left the chamber. Contacted later, Chong said it was unfair that a backbencher was allowed to raise a point of order and then launch into a diatribe against him. He also dismissed Lo's allegation that he did not want more Sarawak representation in Parliament. A special assembly sitting is being held today to debate the state government's proposal to increase the number of state seats from 82 to 99. Yong earlier described the move as being unfair, costly, and only meant to shore up support for the ruling state coalition. She also described the proposal as 'gerrymandering dressed up as reform', claiming that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak-led government was adding new seats only in areas it could win, rather than where they were needed based on voter numbers. Chong had also opposed the proposed increase in state assembly seats, saying Sarawak's large land area alone does not justify adding more assemblymen.
Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
It's gerrymandering, S'wak DAP rep says of 17 new state seats
Pending assemblyman Violet Yong said there is no need for the additional seats when major pain points such as poor infrastructure and utilities in Sarawak remain unaddressed. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sarawak DAP assemblyman has slammed the state government's proposal to add 17 new seats to the legislative assembly, calling it unfair, costly, and meant to shore up support for the ruling state coalition. Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) said the move to increase the number of seats in the state assembly from 82 to 99 was 'untimely, unfair, unnecessary and politically motivated'. 'The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is only adding new seats where it can win, not where they're actually needed based on the number of voters. 'This is gerrymandering dressed up as reform,' she told the state assembly in a special sitting today. Yong also said the increase in state seats was being done without public consultation and would only worsen the unequal value of votes between ballots cast in rural and urban constituencies. 'In my own constituency, Pending, there are nearly 30,000 voters based on 2021 figures. Gedong, a rural seat, has fewer than 10,000. Yet both elect one assemblyman. This means a vote in Gedong carries almost three times more weight than a vote in Pending. 'If GPS is going to propose two new state seats within the federal constituency of Petra Jaya, why not also add two more seats in (the federal constituencies of) Bandar Kuching or Stampin?' she asked. Both the Bandar Kuching and Stampin parliamentary seats are held by DAP. Yong's constituency of Pending falls within Bandar Kuching. Yong also said that adding the new seats would be costly, and came at a time when many Sarawakians were struggling with the rising cost of living and inadequate basic facilities. 'The GPS government has chosen to prioritise adding more politicians instead of addressing the people's real needs,' she said. Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) also opposed the proposed increase in state assembly seats, saying Sarawak's large land area alone does not justify adding more representatives. He said Sarawak's ratio of voters to elected representatives was already low and manageable compared to other large regions, such as in Australia. 'In Victoria, one assemblyman serves 79,000 voters. In New South Wales, it's about 90,000. In contrast, here in Sarawak, one assemblyman serves only about 34,000 voters and covers 1,517 sq km,' Chong said. He said even given Sarawak's vast land area of 124,450 sq km, the current 82-seat composition still meant a lighter workload per representative than in many Australian states. 'With the proposed increase, the ratio would fall further, to one assemblyman for every 25,454 people and 1,257 sq km,' he said. Speaker Asfia Awang Nassar then interjected, reminding Chong that 'Sarawak is in Malaysia, not Australia'. Chong responded that he was merely providing a comparative example. He added that Sarawak would be better served by pushing for more parliamentary seats instead. He said that despite being the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak's representation in Parliament remained relatively small at only 31 out of 222 MPS. 'It would be more strategic for us to capitalise on our kingmaker's role at the federal level by increasing our parliamentary seats,' he said. Before Chong began his debate, Asfia warned him not to challenge the legal basis for the seat increase. He added that the redrawing of electoral boundaries was under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC), not the Sarawak government. 'It is the EC that conducts, from time to time, the delineation of boundaries – not the GPS government, and not this assembly. That is my ruling,' Asfia said.
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Chong: No justification for DUN seat hike, push for more parliamentary seats instead
Chong (centre) stresses his point during the press conference while flanked by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and DAP Socialist Youth Sarawak secretary George Lam. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 7): Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) does not see the need for Sarawak to increase its seats from 82 to 99 as the current population-to-state elected representatives (ADUNs) ratio remains relatively small compared to other Commonwealth nations. He said there was no compelling reason to increase the number of ADUNs, especially when then existing representatives already serve fewer constituents than their counterparts in both developed and developing Commonwealth countries. 'In these countries, each state assemblymen or assemblywomen serve a lot more than our current ADUN member-to-population ration which is 1:34,000 persons, and I think the land masses is a lot bigger. 'So, there's no reason why we are already serving under par with other ADUNs of the Commonwealth countries that we still need to increase the number of the state legislative,' he told a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here. He said this after debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at the special sitting of the DUN today. Chong acknowledged that rural constituencies present logistical challenges but stressed that urban constituencies also have their own complexities due to higher population density and the diversity of issues. 'The more people an elected representative has to serve, the more the demands that they have to address and tackle their problem.' He proposed the introduction of a weighted index system that factors in both geographical size and population to ensure a fairer allocation of seats. 'If your area is very big, maybe you get one plus point or if your population is large, you get another. 'This index must be drafted and must be applied to the allocation of seats and the number of seats delineation, so that it has at least a fairer delineation of rural and urban seats,' he said. He also questioned the argument made by some elected representatives that they could not adequately serve their constituencies due to workload. 'If you feel it's too difficult to serve, then step aside and let others who can serve take over,' he said. On the claim that a spike in voter numbers justifies more state seats, Chong dismissed the notion as flawed, saying the role of elected representatives is to serve all constituents and not just the voters. 'There has been no sharp increase in Sarawak's population so it's not a justified reason. 'We have always been serving people of all ages even before they are eligible to vote.' The DAP Sarawak chairman also criticised the financial cost of adding 17 more ADUNs, noting that the estimated RM20 million in salaries alone for one term could be better used to benefit the people. 'This does not include their service centres, perks, and lifelong pensions. 'The government should use that money for the people instead of expanding the legislature unnecessarily,' he said. He also questioned the necessity of having 32 political secretaries to the Premier — one for each parliamentary seat in Sarawak. 'If you think that these ADUNs are insufficient, then why not reduce the number of political secretaries first? 'They too receive salaries, perks, drivers, and pensions,' he said, adding that having one or two political secretaries to the Premier should suffice. Chong stressed that what Sarawakians truly want is greater representation in the Parliament and not in the State Legislative Assembly. 'I call upon the Sarawak government to move a motion in Parliament through the deputy prime minister or minister to increase the number of Sarawak parliamentary seats. 'I will pledge my full support for that motion along with the other Sarawakian DAP MPs,' he said. Chong Chieng Jen increase lead seats State Legislative Assemb;y
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
DAP rep claims Sarawak's 17-seat increase is ‘gerrymandering' in disguise
KUCHING, July 7 — The proposal to increase the number of elected representatives in the State Legislative Assembly from 82 to 99 is 'not only untimely, but unfair, unnecessary and politically motivated,' said Violet Yong (DAP-Pending). Yong argued that the move fails to address pressing issues faced by the rakyat, such as high cost of living, poor infrastructure and lack of basic amenities. 'At a time when many Sarawakians are struggling with the rising cost of living, inadequate roads, no electricity, no clean water supply, and poor access to basic services, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has chosen to prioritise adding more politicians instead of addressing the people's real needs,' she said during the debate on Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 today. Yong further questioned the justification for the increase, noting that while voter numbers had grown significantly due to automatic voter registration and Undi18, the surge was concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas. 'But does this justify a sudden 20 per cent jump in state seats? The answer is a resounding no, because the increase in voters is not evenly spread 'It is concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas, where people are migrating for jobs, education, and opportunities. Yet, this Bill does absolutely nothing to address their underrepresentation,' she said. Yong accused the government of manipulating the system under the guise of 'representation,' claiming that the proposal 'once again favours rural areas' rather than redrawing boundaries to reflect demographic realities, a move she called illogical and unfair. She also raised concerns about unequal voter representation across constituencies. 'In my own constituency, Pending, there are nearly 30,000 voters. Gedong, a rural seat, has less than 10,000. Yet both elect one ADUN (state assemblyperson),' she said. Yong claimed the seat expansion was politically driven, noting that during the redelineation exercise in 2015, most new seats went to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a pattern she believes is likely to repeat. 'Let's call it what it is: GPS is adding new seats only where it can win, not where they're actually needed based on voter numbers. This is gerrymandering dressed up as reform,' she said. She also warned of the financial burden, saying millions would be spent on salaries, facilities and operations while many rural communities still lack clean water and electricity. Yong concluded by questioning the silence of Sarawak's GPS federal ministers on the matter and called for more meaningful reforms. 'What have our five federal ministers from Sarawak GPS done in Parliament to fight for more parliamentary seats for Sarawak? Why is there no visible push from them to demand what is rightfully ours?' she asked. — The Borneo Post
