MPP, SUPP, DAP clash over party-branded festive decorations at 7th Mile Market

A collage photos showing (clockwise from left) Tan, Yap and Kong at 7th Mile Market recently.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Feb 12: The voluntary display of Chinese New Year decorations distributed by political parties at the 7th Mile Market has sparked a public dispute between the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak representatives, and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap over whether the items were political or purely festive.

MPP chairman Tan Kai said the council had been informed by Yap that the festive couplets and calendars were only distributed to hawkers on the morning of the visit, and any display of decorations was done voluntarily by traders themselves.

“As a gesture of fairness and to uphold neutrality, I have instructed council officers to remove all political-related door stickers, calendars, or materials displayed on council premises, including those associated with both the ruling party and the opposition,” he explained in a statement today.

He stressed that the council also routinely removes advertisements related to illegal money lending activities and called on the public to cooperate in keeping market spaces orderly.

Tan added that MPP itself had installed Chinese New Year lanterns and lights at council-managed markets to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere.

He expressed regret that the matter had been politicised through “premature and biased remarks”, urging political and community leaders to promote harmony instead of speculation or tension.

In a separate statement, DAP Sarawak chairman’s special assistant Michael Kong insisted that the decoration materials distributed by the party were purely festive and not political in nature.

“Political materials are content designed to influence public support towards an individual or party. The door stickers carried festive greetings and were no different from materials distributed by MPP or Wilfred Yap himself,” Kong said.

He also claimed that Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and MPP materials, as well as illegal moneylender advertisements, remain on display, raising concerns of selective enforcement.

“Neutrality cannot mean swiftly removing items associated with DAP while turning a blind eye to others. Enforcement must be fair and consistent,” he said.

Yap, meanwhile, reaffirmed that his visit to the market was conducted in the spirit of goodwill and community harmony.

“I only distributed a calendar and couplets directly to the hawkers. Any display was voluntary,” he said in another statement.

He highlighted ongoing market upgrades funded under the RM400,000 Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and additional RM205,000 allocated for public toilets, implemented by MPP.

“Traders’ voluntary display of festive couplets reflects their gratitude and festive joy. This goodwill should not be politicised,” Yap added.

Yap urged all parties to focus on development and practical solutions for the community rather than turning a routine festive gesture into a political controversy.

“The people of Kota Sentosa want progress, not political drama,” he said, calling for unity and shared prosperity as the New Year approaches. — DayakDaily