DAP Sarawak rejects ‘U-turn’ claim over deputy minister appointment
by Jacqueline Raphael · Borneo Post OnlineMIRI (Dec 19): Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak secretary Alan Ling has rejected claims that the party made a political ‘U-turn’ by accepting a deputy minister post, saying the accusation was misleading and ignored facts already on public record since the 15th General Election (GE15) in 2022.
Ling was responding to allegations made by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok, who criticised the appointment of Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.
Ling said the criticism failed to acknowledge the circumstances surrounding the formation of the federal government after GE15.
He noted that DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen had publicly stated in 2022 that a Sarawak-based political party had insisted that no DAP Sarawak MP be appointed to the Cabinet as a condition for supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
“This was openly stated at the time and widely reported,” Ling said in a statement on Thursday, adding that DAP Sarawak supported Anwar’s appointment without demanding Cabinet positions.
However, he stressed that this did not mean DAP Sarawak should be permanently excluded from holding executive responsibilities at the federal level.
Describing the deputy minister appointment as a U-turn was untenable, Ling argued, as the real reversal occurred during political bargaining in 2022 when DAP Sarawak MPs were blocked from Cabinet posts.
“Who blocked DAP Sarawak MPs from entering the Cabinet then? The answer is obvious,” he said.
Ling said the appointment was about responsibility rather than power, adding that Sarawakian representation in the federal executive was important, particularly in areas such as youth and sports.
“A deputy minister ensures Sarawak’s voice is present in policymaking. If SUPP truly cares about Sarawak, it should welcome Sarawakians serving at the federal level,” he said.
He also dismissed attempts to link unresolved issues such as the demand for a 20 per cent oil and gas royalty and recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to DAP, pointing out that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) had been part of several federal administrations over the years.
“Blaming DAP is a convenient evasion. Are GPS ministers and deputy ministers merely decorative figures?”
Ling added that the narrative of exclusive governance by local parties had lost credibility, noting that GPS component parties, including SUPP, had aligned with various federal governments while key autonomy issues remained unresolved.
“Democracy is about choice, not exclusion. Sarawak does not need to be ‘protected’ from reform; it needs reformers who dare to speak up and deliver,” he said.
Sim, who criticised Mordi’s appointment following the recent Cabinet reshuffle announced by Anwar, said the appointment contradicted assurances given by DAP Sarawak leaders in 2022 that the party had no intention of seeking executive positions at the federal level, describing it as a clear reversal.
He also cited unresolved issues such as oil and gas royalty and UEC recognition, and quoted a political analyst who suggested the appointments were politically strategic ahead of the next Sarawak state election.