Dr Sim: Questions on government must be backed by evidence

KUCHING: Questions raised in the name of checks and balances should be supported by evidence and brought through the appropriate channels rather than used to make defamatory or malicious allegations, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

He said while public scrutiny is important, those raising concerns about government decisions should also demonstrate the facts behind their claims and allow the relevant authorities to investigate where necessary.

“If you have the evidence, produce it. There are appropriate agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.

“Why just raise questions? If you have the courage to make an allegation, you should be prepared to substantiate it,” he told reporters after attending the launching ceremony of the Batu Kawa-Stephen Yong Road construction project here today (Nov 11).

Dr Sim said the people themselves had the opportunity to assess the performance of their elected representatives through elections held every five years.

He said the effectiveness of checks and balances should also be measured by the results delivered to the people, rather than merely through criticism.

He cited Batu Kawa as an example of an area that had undergone development over the years, asking whether its present condition was better than it had been a decade ago.

Dr Sim also called on elected representatives, particularly those serving at the federal level, to demonstrate their contributions and the results they had secured for Sarawak.

He said the state continued to require support from the Federal Government to advance its development agenda.

On assistance for religious institutions, he said Sarawak’s approach through the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) had provided support to churches and temples, adding that greater federal assistance could help accelerate the completion of such facilities.

He suggested that matching contributions could potentially double the available funding and shorten project completion periods.

“If we can double the allocation on a one-to-one basis, churches and temples can do more. Instead of taking two years to complete a project, they may be able to complete it in one year,” he said.

His remarks came amid renewed calls for greater transparency over the use of public funds, including questions raised by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, stressing that checks and balances are not an attack on the government but part of ensuring accountability to the public.