Sarawakians must pressure newly elected reps to fulfil promises – Stephen Then

SINCE the conclusion of the 12th state election two weeks ago, many people have been queuing up at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches throughout Sarawak in the hopes of getting the Bantuan Kebajikan Sarawak Sayangku (BKSS) 8.0 cash aid.

However, the much sought-after financial relief, which was promised by the incumbent Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition before the December 18 polls has yet to be transferred into their respective bank accounts.

While GPS comfortably returned to power by sweeping 76 of the 82 state seats, none of the GPS assemblymen have taken the impetus to inform the deserving rakyat on the expected availability of BKSS 8.0.

It is often the usual norm for political figures irrespective of Sarawak or even Peninsular Malaysia to allure their voters with grand promises of change, aid and reform.

However, most of the time such promises often remain unfulfilled due to numerous reasons such as lack of political willpower.

In an effort to ensure that these promises are fulfilled, the rakyat should play a more aggressive role in pressuring their elected representatives to come through with their promises.

Voters in Sarawak and the country as a whole should not allow themselves to be constantly fooled by empty promises, which so often end in a repetitive cycle.

Social non-governmental organisations, ethnic associations, business bodies, residential communities, professional organisations and the like must constantly apply pressure on their elected representatives to fulfil promises, especially in critical matters that affect them.

Apart from any form of government cash aid, Sarawakians should also continue to progressively champion its B40 group by advocating the critical issue of affordable housing in the state.

A suggestion mooted by former Miri mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai calls for every GPS assemblyman to set a two-year deadline for the state government to complete low-cost housing schemes in their respective constituencies.

As such the people must pressure the GPS-led government to make affordable housing its top priority as they begin their five-year-term.

In ensuring a successful execution, GPS must ensure that an affordable unit costs no more than RM200,000.

The state government should also introduce a rent-to-own scheme, which ensures that those who cannot afford the units will be able to own them at a later time.

Progress reports on each affordable housing project must be presented every six months by the state’s housing minister.

Given that every elected representative operates from an office in their respective constituencies, I suggest that voters go there constantly to get these matters into motion.

Set deadlines for these Yang Berhormats.

Should these elected politicians fail to fulfil their promises, the people should openly protest and express their dissatisfaction to the media. – The Vibes, January 2, 2022

Stephen Then is a reporter at The Vibes based in Miri