Youths of Sibu singing two Chinese numbers ‘Buddies’ and ‘Friends’ with Wong (fifth right). On Wong’s left are Toh and Kapitan Datin Janet Lau.
500 submit Teras application forms to join Wong in new political journey to prosper Sibu
SIBU: Some 500 youths have pledged to work with Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh on a new political journey to further build Sibu.
These youths submitted their application forms to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) during the Sibu Youth Solidarity Night on Saturday, and the forms were handed over by the organising chairman Toh Jack Kuong to Wong.
Wong, who is also Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said many of these youths were non-party members and they had voluntarily come forward to join Teras.
“With the new direction, townsfolk will now have direct access to the Barisan Nasional. This is the time when people, particularly those from the Chinese community, must pool their political strength together.”
Wong said in the past the Chinese community could only reach the Barisan Nasional government through SUPP Central.
“Not any more. We now have direct link ourselves [sic].”
Wong said Sibu SUPP’s relationship with SUPP Central had been strained during the last three years and this was followed by persecution when angry members lodged complaints with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Thereafter, he said SUPP Central treated them like enemies, and the episode ended with him being sacked twice within five months this year, while other members were “sacrificed”.
“A lot more members have received the party’s show cause letters, demanding them to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
“My word of advice to SUPP is not to waste time on this, for these members have vowed to sink or swim with me.”
Wong said his supporters saw hope in the new political direction.
He added that thousands of SUPP members would be joining him soon because they were fed up with the party.
“This is the strength we are manifesting tonight.”
Wong said Sibu folk, especially those of the Chinese community, must not waver. He said there were four state assembly seats for the Chinese community here and three were in the hands of the opposition.
“This has forced me to work alone in the state Barisan Nasional. Despite that, I have successfully helped build a world-class university that provides the cheapest study fees among private universities in the country.”
He said he had also helped set up Laila Taib College that provides higher education for free.
The building of the two institutions of higher learning here, he added, was timely because it would help fuel the manpower needs of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“Now, our children will no longer need to leave home for higher education. After their graduation, jobs will be waiting for them in SCORE.
“We are talking here about tens of thousands of new job opportunities in the future for SCORE had attracted foreign investments worth RM28 billion thus far.”
On his political steps for the Chinese community, Wong said he had recently led professionals, youth leaders, entrepreneurs and others to meet Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem to share views affecting the community.
“We had very frank and serious discussions. Some issues can be solved immediately, some needs time, some can be solved by the Chinese community themselves and some can be done with the backup of the government.
“What the Chinese community needs now is to pool together their political strength to work with the government.”
In his speech, Toh told the 800 people present at the gathering that efforts must be made to guide Chinese youths back to the BN fold to ensure continued prosperity for Sibu.
He said getting youths onto the BN bandwagon was important because they constituted about 50 per cent of voters here.
Toh noted that youths had leaned towards the opposition in recent years to air their grievances.
“But if young people can see the potential of building Sibu together with the (BN) government, this could take the town to greater heights of progress.”
A vibrant Sibu, he added, was important as it is the focal point of central Sarawak that houses four divisions and boasts a population of nearly one million, which is slightly less than half of the state’s population.
He said people in these four divisions all travelled in and out through Sibu, which has the reputation of grooming battle-harden entrepreneurs.
“There is a common saying that if you could be successful in business in Sibu, you can be successful anywhere in the world. This has made Sibu unique.”
Toh said youths from Sibu had not only been successful in the country, but also in places such as Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Africa, Canada and Australia.
“With such quality (human capital), let us not turn our back on the government. Work with the government and, with mutual support, we can materialise dreams together.”
On Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who is now leading the folk here on a new political future, Toh said Wong had committed himself politically to Sibu since 1996.
He said Wong had worked closely with the late Datuk Robert Lau to develop Sibu.
“Under their leadership, we have built the biggest town square and market in the country. With the help of Wong’s son (Datuk Andrew Wong), a technology university is standing tall under the sun now.”