JUST four weeks ago, I wrote in this column that I do not even know where the service centre of my Stampin MP is located in Kuching.
This is true as I do not reside in my home town of Kuching and I have not seen the MP, Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, for more than 10 years.
Although I can consider Yong an old friend, it’s not my nature to hang around VIPs and busy people.
In my line of work, I think I have enough of ministers and VIPs. While many are generally sincere people, there are some who can act so unnatural and can be perceived to be hypocritical.
Now, I feel more comfortable sitting in coffee shops and mamak stalls with friends from the ‘kaki lima’ planet.
This week however, I returned to Kuching and decided to give the Stampin incumbent a tinkle. I managed to obtain Yong’s mobile number from a mutual friend.
I was glad to learn that Yong was his usual cheerful and friendly self in hearing from me after so long. When I suggested that we have a chat over coffee, he invited me to visit him at his service centre the next morning. So now I know the location of his service centre, which doubles as his political office.
I met a journalist friend in Yong’s office and he jokingly asked me later whether I went to see the MP to ask for a wheelchair.
Aha, my friend recalled I had written in jest in this column that I would possibly need to see my MP only when I’m old and feeble, to ask for a wheelchair.
Oh, it’s great to see Yong as healthy as ever. For his age, he’s truly blessed. He has no major health issues.
Goodness me, he’s still smoking his favourite brand. I told him I have already been given the ‘red card’ by my doctor about puffing, so I had to quit.
I remember those years in the late 90s when Yong was a parliamentary secretary and I also had to attend parliamentary sessions because of my work. We would both sneak out to the smoker’s corner at the parliament canteen at regular intervals for our much needed dose of nicotine.
It was good to see Yong cheerful and lively. He is such a likeable character, really.
Yong has always reminded me of former Kuching Mayor Datuk Song Swee Guan. Both were very popular figures in Kuching because of their pleasant personality and jovial character.
Like Song, Yong is a down-to-earth politician who is comfortable in the company of labourers and hawkers, as he is with the prime minister.
Following the retirement of Song from politics, I think Yong Khoon Seng is the last of the second generation of SUPP leaders in Kuching who is still politically active.
He belongs to the group with some semblance and links to the party founders. Yong was the protege of the late Tan Sri Stephen Yong, the founder secretary-general of the party and a true Sarawak patriot.
The incumbent Stampin MP was asked to defend his seat by his BN chief and this must have given him added pressure. But he is taking it all in his stride, telling me that it’s up to the voters to judge his track record.
“I’m offering my services to the people again. I promise that I will do my best for them. What I promise, I will deliver. I do not lie.
“Let me advise them to vote wisely. Election is a serious business. It’s about choosing a government to run and manage the country. Vote with a clear mind and with your conscience,” Yong said.
On nomination day last Saturday, I decided to observe the event in a rural constituency for once. So I went to the Selangau District office to catch the excitement of the day.
My decision to go to Selangau was generated by the hype over the tussle between two sworn political enemies – Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the newly-formed Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).
The long journey to Selangau was worth it. I was not disappointed.
It was vintage Datuk Sng Chee Hua, the SWP founder, at his best that day.
Love him or loath him, you have to give it to Sng when it comes to rural politics. It’s difficult to find another Chinese politician who is so at home in a rural setting.
SWP may declare itself as BN-friendly but if the nomination day is any indication, BN candidate Datuk Joseph Entulu may find SWP not so friendly up till May 5 and beyond.
I believe this is the first time in a rural constituency where the BN entourage and supporters were out-numbered by the opposing camp on nomination day.
SWP supporters easily swelled to almost 3,000 by the time the candidate arrived with his proposer and seconder. BN had about 1,000 flag bearers.
I have to commend Sng for his wry remark that he was contesting in Selangau because he did not want to disappoint Entulu as he (Entulu) had invited him to several times.
I had a good chuckle at Sng’s sarcasm.
Selangau has been classified as a ‘white grey’ seat by the state BN, meaning that the opposition could well spring an upset.
The focus could well be accurate. Sng could win but it would not be an upset. The Sng family is not known to contest elections and ending up on the wrong end.
Pundits are predicting a victory for the father in Selangau and son, Larry, in Lubok Antu.
It was also nice to meet another good friend, Joshua Jabeng, the PKR candidate that day.
I wish the trio the best. May the best man take Selangau.
I must confess that I’m very pro-Sarawak and my priority and choice is for anything local. So it is too with political parties.
It does not matter whether the party is a powerful, well-established entity or a mosquito outfit.
SWP and the State Reform Party (STAR) are small parties. I’m watching the performance of their candidates closely.
If they manage to win one or two seats, that will be a start to their survival and future growth.
It’s good that SWP and STAR are taking part in the elections. They are Sarawak-born parties and are led by Sarawakians.
I’m particularly glad that STAR is also contesting in the unfamiliar territories of Miri and Santubong. After 16 years, STAR has finally stepped outside its comfort zone of Bidayuh and Chinese seats in Kuching Division.
The party also has an attractive sales pitch now – the Borneo Agenda. In time to come, I believe it will resonate with the people of Sarawak.
I wish these local parties, mosquito outfits or not, the best. The journey is long and arduous. It takes patience, perseverance, great strength and faith to keep going.
And hey, it’s okay to dream dreams in politics. After all, dreams are free.
Comments can reach the writer via [email protected].