Wong (left) hands over ‘angpow’ to children.
SIBU: United People’s Party (UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh is confident that matters pertaining to the toll at Lanang Bridge will be resolved to the satisfaction of the people.
Speaking at UPP Bukit Assek branch Chinese New Year dinner at a hotel here on Wednesday night, he said he based his confidence on the words of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem who meant what he (Adenan) said.
“Our chief minister has the heart for the people and knows what they want. The Cabinet has taken steps to work things out with the contractor to see whether the toll can be reduced or abolished altogether.
“We will most probably abolish the toll for the benefit of the people of Sibu, Meradong, Sarikei and anybody using the trunk road,” Wong said.
He added that the issue would be resolved in the Barisan Nasional (BN) spirit.
Citing the naming of Lau King Howe Road and Dataran Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Haji Othman as an example, he said UPP always got things done based on consensus in the BN spirit, taking into consideration everyone’s interest.
“The Malay community is happy and the Chinese community is happy. Signature campaigns will only do harm rather than good,” he said, adding that it only aroused emotions.
On UPP, he said it was part of the BN family.
“Our chief minister and BN state chairman, Adenan, mentioned on Aug 25, last year after chairing a PBB meeting that the government would adopt BN plus formula until the next election,” recalled Wong, who is Local Government and Community Development Minister.
He said Adenan had explained that there would be no reshuffle of the Cabinet and despite not being with Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) anymore, he (Wong) was still a senior minister in his (Adenan’s) cabinet.
On the impending state election, Wong said the choice of BN candidates rests with the BN leadership.
“It’s based on winnability. I urge party members to engage the people and work hard on the ground to ensure our party has the people’s support,” he said.
Among those present at the dinner were UPP Bukit Assek branch chairman Siek King Kuong, Dudong branch chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, Pelawan branch chairperson Kapitan Datuk Janet Lau, political secretaries to the chief minister Andrew Shilling and Pau Kiew Chuang and event organising chairman Michael Lau.