KUCHING: Kota Sentosa Assemblyman, Wilfred Yap has dismissed recent claims made by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak Chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, who alleged that the state is ‘flush with cash but failing its poor’.

Wilfred labelled the claims as misleading and a deliberate attempt to downplay the Sarawak Government’s efforts in delivering inclusive development and social support.

He said the state’s revenues are being reinvested into initiatives that provide real and tangible benefits to the people.

He pointed to the Sarawak Government’s comprehensive approach to social welfare, which he said supports people from the day they are born right through to their senior years.

“For newborns and mothers, there’s the RM1,000 Endowment Fund and RM450 Postnatal Assistance. Registered childcare centres receive RM5,000 yearly to ease the burden of early childhood care.

“Students benefit from school uniform vouchers, free transport, as well as tuition subsidies, and beginning 2026, university education will be made free without any bond requirement.

“Meanwhile, seniors receive health benefits, discounts under the Kenyalang Gold Card, and RM3,000 funeral assistance. For low-income families, there are food vouchers worth RM250 to RM800, targeted medical aid, and microcredit to support small business ventures,” he said.

Wilfred emphasised that these are clear examples of meaningful spending on people, rather than what he described as empty slogans and media grandstanding.

He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government prioritises practical, long-term support for families and communities.

On rural development, Wilfred stressed that Sarawak’s commitment is unmatched, with more than 60 per cent of the state’s development budget channelled into rural transformation projects.

These include roads, water supply, electricity, and healthcare facilities for areas that were previously overlooked.

“Unlike when DAP was in federal power from 2018 to 2020, GPS has delivered what others failed to,” he said.

He pointed to several major infrastructure projects abandoned by the Pakatan Harapan federal administration, of which DAP was part, such as the Batang Lupar, Batang Igan, Batang Rambungan, and Batang Kemena bridges.

“These are not mere cosmetic ventures. They are economic lifelines that DAP chose to walk away from, only to now act as if it never happened,” he said.

Wilfred also highlighted the state’s forward-looking investments aimed at building a self-reliant Sarawak.

These include the new international airport and deepsea port, the coastal highway, the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system in Kuching, renewable energy projects, and the formation of Air Borneo to improve regional connectivity.

“These are not just projects, they represent a vision,” he said.

Responding to DAP’s criticism of the RM30 million flagpole in Kuching, Wilfred clarified that it was not paid for with public funds.

Instead, he said it was part of a broader development project financed through corporate social responsibility contributions from PETRONAS, PETROS, and SHELL.

“It’s irresponsible to deliberately mislead the public on this,” he added.

He further noted that while social welfare in Malaysia typically falls under federal jurisdiction, the Sarawak Government has gone above and beyond by contributing state funds to top up and extend support.

Wilfred ended by contrasting GPS’s approach with what he termed the opposition’s ‘noisy politics’.

“We don’t just say Sarawak First. We make it happen,” he said. -UKASnews