PDP man slams ‘outdated’ politics: ‘Visibility doesn’t equal performance, people want results’

Eric Fung (file pic)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, May 29: The rakyat are not concerned with visibility or longevity—they want leaders who deliver results and solve problems.

In a statement, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth Movement assistant secretary Eric Fung said this in response to remarks by Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong, which he claimed was an attempt to manufacture political relevance while deflecting attention from talks on performance and unresolved local issues.

“Being constantly seen around town does not automatically translate into effectiveness, competence or achievement. The rakyat are not interested in political theatrics or manufactured visibility. They are interested in outcomes,” he said.

He contended that claims of being deeply rooted in the constituency or consistently present among the people invite a simple question from voters: What transformative changes have been delivered to Dudong?

Fung further claimed that Wong’s repeated criticisms regarding representatives attending functions on behalf of elected leaders or attempts to politicise the absence of certain leaders from specific events reflect a ‘shallow’ understanding of effective governance and political administration.

“Since when does delegating representatives equate to not working? A mature and effective political team operates through coordination, division of responsibilities, and institutional efficiency.

“The real issue is whether public complaints are responded to, whether follow-up actions are carried out, and whether the people’s concerns are ultimately resolved,” he said.

He added that, by Wong’s logic, a representative could be deemed effective simply by maintaining a visible presence and issuing regular statements, even if long-standing constituency issues remained unresolved—an approach Fung described as an ‘outdated’ political mindset that voters are increasingly rejecting.

Fung also stressed that various infrastructure and people-centric improvement initiatives in Dudong involving flood mitigation, drainage systems, road connectivity, public amenities, and broader local development planning have been pushed forward under its current elected representative, PDP president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, with continuous engagement and coordination with the relevant authorities.

“Many long-neglected issues affecting Dudong and the wider Sibu area are now finally being brought onto the agenda and gradually entering stages of implementation and improvement,” he said.

He also noted that many structural and developmental issues affecting Sibu today did not emerge overnight, nor can they realistically be resolved within a single term.

“What matters most is whether there is sincerity to confront these issues seriously, consistency in pushing for solutions, and the ability to secure coordination, resources, and policy support necessary to move development forward,” he added. — DayakDaily