Media Statement
by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): DAP humbly thanks Sarawak voters who gave DAP its biggest electoral victory in Sarawak since our first electoral foray into Sarawak in 1979. DAP’s success in the Sarawak general elections is not just a victory for DAP but a victory for the people of Sarawak who wants democracy, freedom, justice, integrity and human dignity.

DAP Sarawak under the leadership of its Chair and newly-elected ADUN for Bukit Assek Wong Ho Leng deserves full congratulations and credit for winning 6 out of 12 seats and losing 3 seats marginally. DAP has now emerged as the largest opposition party in Sarawak after a commendable performance that saw largely reduced majorities in areas that DAP lost as follows: 
 

Instead of their wish for a clean sweep and 100% victory, the general trend of the general election results is a swing against BN, which showed sharply reduced majorities even for Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud and SUPP President Tan Sri George Chan. Both must stop pretending that BN’s losses to DAP are due to propaganda and not to misguided policies of BN that are unfair and discriminatory to the people as well as breed corruption and abuse of power.

Taib and George Chan should not belittle the intelligence of voters who are not so foolish as to be so easily misled. Or are voters only wise when they support BN but foolish when they support DAP? DAP believes if the SPR had been independent, fair and unbiased, DAP would have been able to win some of those seats lost marginally.

Taib and George Chan must take heed of the people’s strong message that they want BN to correct such policies as:

·        burdening the people with fuel hikes without distributing oil revenues and profits when Sarawak is an oil-producing state;

·        the great income disparity between the rich and the poor;

·        refusing automatic renewal of land leases title upon expiry upon payment of nominal premiums and not the proposed 50-75% of market rates;

·        quotas instead of giving equal opportunities in education and mother tongue language; and

·        action against corruption and abuse of power.

Sarawak voters have spoken loud and clear that despite threats, intimidation and vote-buying, they have the courage to vote for an opposition as a voice of conscience and democracy. DAP is humbled by their trust and our six newly elected representatives will put their best efforts to be their voice to articulate their aspirations, correct and monitor the Sarawak government to bring about good governance.

Their courage has brought forth fresh hope to all Malaysians and hopefully a wake-up call for both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Sarawak BN that the people had had enough and BN must start listening to the people. If both Taib and George Chan is sincere is accepting the results of the general elections, they must accept that the Sarawak voters are now more matured and want elected representatives who speak for the people; share their burdens; carry out development projects that benefit the people and not cronies; and treat the people like “bosses” and not as servants.