Voters can act as a check and balance, says Sarawak speaker

Sarawak speaker Asfia Awang Nasar has emphasized that voters bear the responsibility of ensuring checks and balances, rather than political parties. He stated that voters have the power to select their representatives. Furthermore, Asfia mentioned that other political parties' role is to convince voters of their ability to fulfill the checks and balances function, according to a statement from Sarawak’s communications unit, Komunikasi Awam Sarawak.

The Sarawak leader also pointed out that young professionals within the ruling GPS could contribute to checks and balances from within the coalition. They could do this by expressing their opinions and offering constructive criticism, he added.

Back in the previous month, state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had claimed that GPS backbenchers would keep the state government in check if the coalition achieved a clean sweep in the upcoming state election, scheduled for December 12. Karim suggested that these backbenchers would act as a pressure group "like the opposition" if the GPS secured all 82 seats in the election.

Previously, he had stated that the GPS state government maintains sufficient checks and balances despite uncertainties about the absence of a robust opposition.