SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bukit Assek branch chairman Chieng Buong Toon said the five branches here had done their part in relaying the voice of the people to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to rename Hospital Road as Law King Howe Road.
In a press conference yesterday, Chieng said the five branches – Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Bawang Assan, Dudong and Nangka – had collected 19,269 signatures in just 10 days from the public to appeal to SMC to rename the road beside Sibu Town Square Phase II, which is within the council’s prerogative.
“This is not a political issue or a racial one. This is about a tribute from the community of all races, who have benefited from the selfless contribution of Law when he donated all his properties to build a modern hospital for Sibu in the 1930s. The road naming is about remembering this act of love, and for Sibu descendants to emulate.”
Chieng said the five branches launched the road naming petition from Nov 27 to Dec 7, and the response was so overwhelming that people of all races, including Chinese, Malays, Melanaus and Dayaks, responded to it.
He said after they had processed the appeal, it was handed to SMC’s secretary Hii Chang Kee, who received on behalf of the council.
The SUPP Bukit Assek chairman said he was familiar with the council’s working in processing road naming, which comes under the General Purpose Standing Committee that would normally meet monthly.
“It could be too late for them to discuss the matter this month. I hope they would seriously do so next month.”
Chieng hoped SMC would not treat the matter lightly, adding “this is a petition that comes from nearly 20,000 people; not a mere 20 people.
“I hope they would not chuck the appeal into the rubbish bin. Be answerable to the people. We shall follow up on the matter.”
The press conference also saw the attendance leaders of the five branches, including Nangka branch chairman Benson Chua, Dudong branch chairman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck and Pelawan branch chairman Clarence Ting.