PBK Bandar Kuching

PRESS STATEMENT
BY VOON LEE SHAN
PRESIDENT, PARTI BUMI KENYALANG

RE: BATANG LUPAR BRIDGE

Batang Lupar Bridge No:1 officially opened on 21 May 2026 at a cost of RM848.7 million, and is proudly promoted as a mega development project for Sarawak. But Sarawakians must ask an important question:

Who actually paid for it?

The bridge was initially announced as a Federal project under the Barisan Nasional administration, with the understanding that the Federal Government would play a major role in funding such strategic infrastructure.

However, after the change of the Federal Government following GE14 in 2018, several major projects in Sarawak were reportedly reviewed, deferred, or delayed by Putrajaya on the grounds of financial constraints. Among them was the Batang Lupar Bridge project.

What happened next speaks volumes.

Instead of abandoning the project, the Sarawak Government under GPS decided to continue using Sarawak’s own financial resources. In other words, Sarawak had to use its own money to ensure the bridge became a reality.

This raises a deeper issue that every Sarawakian should reflect upon:

If Sarawak can fund multi-billion ringgit infrastructure projects ourselves, what does this reveal about the true wealth of Sarawak?

For decades, Sarawak’s oil, gas, timber, hydropower, and natural resources contributed massively to the Federal coffers. Billions upon billions flowed out from Sarawak to build and develop other parts of Malaysia. Yet when Sarawak urgently needed strategic infrastructure, we were told there was “not enough money”.

Why should Sarawak continuously depend on Federal approvals and allocations when Sarawak itself is resource-rich enough to finance its own development?
Batang Lupar Bridge is therefore not merely a bridge across a river. It is a symbol of a larger political reality:

Sarawak has long possessed the economic strength to stand on its own feet.

The real issue has never been whether Sarawak is poor.

The real issue is how much of Sarawak’s wealth has been centralised, controlled, or drained away for decades while Sarawak continued to lag behind in roads, healthcare, education, water supply, and basic infrastructure in many rural areas.

Sarawakians must start asking:

If Sarawak’s own money was used to build the bridge, why should Sarawakians be endlessly grateful to Putrajaya for returning only a fraction of what has long flowed out from our land?

Sarawak asks for control over the wealth generated from Sarawak’s own soil.
A bridge funded by Sarawak’s own resources should remind every Sarawakian of one simple truth:

Sarawak is rich. Sarawakians must benefit first from Sarawak’s wealth. The wealth of Sarawak should not be used to develop other parts of Malaysia, especially Malaya, but Sarawak.

In Quest Of Independence

PartiBumiKenyalang
23 May, 2026

PUBLIC STATEMENT BY VOON LEE SHAN
PRESIDENT, PARTI BUMI KENYALANG (PBK)
8 JUNE 2026

The increasing presence of the Mayor of Kuching South at public functions representing the Deputy Premier, Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, has raised legitimate questions among the people of Kuching.

The public is entitled to ask: Is the Mayor performing the duties of an independent public servant, or has he become a de facto political representative of a political leader?

A Mayor occupies a public office. He is paid by public funds and entrusted to serve all ratepayers regardless of their political affiliation. He must not only be impartial, but must also be seen to be impartial.

The concern is one of public confidence. When a Mayor is repeatedly seen representing a political leader at public events, it creates the perception that the line between public administration and party politics is becoming blurred.

This raises an important question. If a politically connected individual, a member of SUPP, or a person aligned with GPS is found to have breached local council by-laws, erected illegal structures, or committed planning violations, will the law be enforced with the same firmness and impartiality as against an ordinary citizen?

Across Kuching, illegal extensions and unauthorised structures appear to be mushrooming. Some are eyesores. Some create safety hazards. Some may even endanger lives. The public must have confidence that enforcement is carried out fairly, consistently and without fear or favour.

The rule of law cannot operate on the basis of political connections. The law must be blind to political status, party membership and influence.

A Mayor must be a guardian of public interest, not a participant in partisan politics. Public servants should remain public servants. Politicians should remain politicians. The separation between the two is essential to preserve public trust, accountability and good governance.

The people of Kuching deserve assurance that the local government will be administered independently, professionally, and in accordance with the law, and that no individual, regardless of political standing, is above the law.

VOON LEE SHAN
President
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK)
8 June 2026