DAP Youth defends Pending rep amid push for resignation

DAP Youth defends Pending rep amid push for resignation

Sarawak DAP Youth secretary George Lam said the online petition against Pending assemblyman Violet Yong is a distraction from critical healthcare issues in the state.

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak DAP Youth has come to the defence of Pending assemblyman Violet Yong following criticism over her claim that a patient waited 20 hours to see a cardiologist at the Sarawak Heart Centre.

Its secretary, George Lam, described the backlash as unjust, politically driven, and a deliberate distraction from deeper issues affecting the healthcare system, Dayak Daily reported.

“Her actions, firmly grounded in her responsibility to the people, have now been twisted into accusations of ‘insulting medical personnel’ and ‘disrespecting medical professionalism’.

“More worryingly, an online petition calling for her resignation has been launched – a move we view as deeply unfair, and indicative of politically driven motives aimed at discrediting a committed opposition lawmaker,” he was quoted as saying in a statement today.

Yong’s claims were denied by the Sarawak health department, which said her allegations were inaccurate.

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She has come under fire from several parties, including former DAP firebrand Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo, who expressed support for an online petition calling for her resignation and an apology.

The petition, which claims her remarks were misleading and disrespectful to healthcare workers, has gained more than 2,000 signatures.

Lam said Yong never intended to criticise frontline health workers, whom she acknowledges for their dedication and sacrifices.

“Her concerns are directed at systemic flaws within our healthcare infrastructure, including manpower shortages, administrative inefficiencies, and prolonged patient wait times,” he said, adding that these issues have caused distress to patients and their families.

He said her actions were in line with her responsibilities as an elected representative to voice public concerns.

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“In the case in question, the patient’s family, having endured prolonged delays, sought help from Yong.

“As a duly elected representative, she acted as a bridge between the people and the authorities, a role she was elected to fulfil,” he said.

Lam also said that in a functioning democracy, elected representatives are expected to question authorities, demand accountability, and advocate for reforms.

“If such efforts are silenced through public backlash, petitions, or vilification, how can our democratic institutions function effectively?

“What we are witnessing is not merely a personal attack on Yong. It is an assault on the democratic principle of speaking truth to power,” he said.

He urged the public to focus on solving Sarawak’s healthcare challenges.