Chieng (Seated second right) with other SUPP leaders at the central market with their petition to appeal the re-naming of Hospital Road to Law King Howe Road.
SIBU: SUPP Bukit Assek branch chairman Chieng Buong Toon said yesterday their petition campaign to pressure Sibu Municipal Council to rename Hospital Road to Lau King Howe Road has received overwhelming public response.
Speaking to reporters at the central market, he said in just three days, they had received the signatures of 4,300 people.
He said these included people of all races stressing there was nothing racial in their drive.
“The people of Sibu from all communities felt the gratitude for Lau King Howe in building a modern hospital next to Rajang Port Authority, as it had saved lives in every family.
“Townsfolk, regardless of race, want to pay tribute to this great man of charity, who donated all his properties to build the modern hospital in the 1930s before he returned to China where he died a year later.”
He refuted allegations that the five branches of SUPP Sibu had acted like an opposition party when they launched the appeal campaign to Sibu Muncipal Council through the petition.
“We are not going against Sarawak Barisan Nasional front. We, in a collective effort, are reminding Sibu Municipal Council of the voice of Sibu people. We want to ensure the voice is heard.
“We must not stay off track from the Barisan Nasional’s people-first policy.”