Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said this included the recent controversial decision on liquor licensing for small coffee shops and restaurants, which was rescinded following protests.
At a press conference today, Yii said more than 250,000 Sarawakians are staying in the peninsula and some of them had businesses there.
“They will be affected by such extreme policies and regulations. Are we not going to speak out for their rights?
“If GPS continues to enable this government, we will see more such extreme policies being implemented in the near future.
“If we continue to empower GPS by allowing them to win a significant number of seats in Sarawak, it will be a direct endorsement of such extreme policies as it will strengthen the government with Umno and PAS in it.”
Yii urged Sarawakians to vote for DAP in the Dec 18 elections to ensure a strong check-and-balance in the state assembly.
“DAP will keep in check extremism in the state and Malaysia,” he said.
Yii is contesting the Batu Kawah seat against incumbent Dr Sim Kui Hian, of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP).
At the same press conference, state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen criticised GPS for enabling racism, incompetence, corruption and religious extremism that had become the hallmarks of the current government, as well as the previous Perikatan Nasional-led government.
He also criticised the government for failing to reduce the inflation rate or address the issue of skyrocketing prices of basic necessities.
“The inflation rate before the Barisan Nasional government fell was 3%. We (PH government) brought it down to 1%. Now it is back to between 2% to 3%,” he said.
“By logic, when you have a recession, you should see prices of goods going down. But now, we are seeing the people being hit with a double whammy – inflation and recession.”
Former Pending assemblyman Violet Yong Wui Wui, who is defending her seat, urged the caretaker government to disburse RM10,000 Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS 7.0) financial aid to all struggling small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses in the state.
She criticised the government for placing stringent requirements on struggling businessmen interested in applying for the aid, despite promising simple application requirements earlier.
Sarawak DAP is contesting 18 of the 52 seats up for grabs in the elections.