Meaningless leadership if continuing to blame past issues, says PDP Central Region

SIBU (Feb 23): The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Central Region has thrown its weight behind its president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, over the issue surrounding the recent shoplot collapse at Jalan Pahlawan here.

In a statement on Monday, issued in response to six Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) branches’ recent statement about the matter, PDP Central Region questioned the purpose of holding power ‘if every problem was met by looking backwards and blaming predecessors’.

“If every issue is brushed off by pointing fingers at our predecessors and reopening old files, does gaining power merely mean continuing old policies and repeating the same mistakes, instead of facing problems head-on and fixing long-standing risks?”

PDP Central Region stressed that Tiong – Bintulu MP and also Dudong assemblyman – had been calling for drainage reform even before the last election; and after the polls, he had formally highlighted the urgency of Sibu’s flood mitigation issues in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

“He (Tiong) has repeatedly emphasised the need for systematic, long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes that fail to address root causes.”

PDP Central Region also pointed out the lack of a clear and comprehensive master plan.

“There is no transparent drainage blueprint, no hydraulic river reports, and no clear timeline or phases for dredging works.

“These are not emotional accusations; these are facts on the ground,” it said.

The drainage, it noted, had long reached a point where a full overhaul was unavoidable.

“Yet the public cannot help asking: where exactly are these so-called ‘upgrades’?

“There have been countless overseas study trips and inspections, but what have actually have been delivered for Sibu?

“It is the ordinary people who are suffering.

“What they don’t need are leaders who produce nothing but noise when it comes to action, yet become loud and dramatic when it comes to shifting blame or reopening old arguments.”

PDP Central Region stressed that the recent collapsed building issue must be taken seriously because it housed a tuition centre, with students coming and going every day.

“If something had gone wrong and the children were injured, who would take responsibility?

“To the six SUPP branch members who rushed to defend the situation, put yourselves in other’s shoes.

“If those were your own children inside, how would you feel? Would you rather regret it after tragedy strikes, or deal with the risks early and remove the hidden dangers?” it said.

According to PDP Central Region, all assemblymen have a duty to monitor, speak up and demand improvements whenever they see problems.

“It’s called exercising their responsibility, not mounting confrontation for theatrics.

“So what exactly did Datuk Seri Tiong do wrong?

“He did not ‘launch public attacks’ – he simply responded to media questions as part of his duty.

“Is even that too much to handle?” it said.

“People’s hardship, losses and anxiety cannot be fixed through verbal sparring or media debates.

“Instead of arguing endlessly, deliver real engineering results that actually improve conditions.

“Only by honestly recognising our shortcomings can we move forward; only then will the people see real change and renewed hope,” added PDP Central Region.