Fatimah (second right) endears herself to the audience as she addresses the crowd in Foochow dialect, with Siaw (left), Rapaee (second left) and Dr Annuar (right).
SIBU: Fatimah Othman, mother of BN candidate for Nangka Dr Annuar Rapaee, charmed the audience with her fluent Foochow as she called out to the people to support BN during a political ceramah at a restaurant in Sg Merah on Sunday evening.Fatimah, accompanied by her hubby Rapaee Tarip and Dr Annuar, was campaigning for her son who is BN-PBB candidate for Nangka.
“Yes, he (Dr Annuar) will win,” she said in rapid response to a question from the master of ceremony Siaw Sing Tiong.
On how she learned to speak the dialect, Fatimah recalled that she once stayed in Pulau Selero – a Chinese village in the west bank. On top of that, she worked in the then Lau King Howe Hospital for some 37 years.
Meanwhile, Dr Annuar described the state election as a crucial one, urging the people to ensure a landslide victory for BN to give Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan a strong mandate to negotiate for greater autonomy for Sarawak. He pointed out that Adenan was a leader with strong political will, daring to make changes for the good of Sarawakians.
According to Dr Annuar, Adenan is the first political leader to recognise Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
“We all know that the UEC is very important to the Chinese community and Sarawak has recognised UEC, where students can (now) apply for scholarship from Yayasan Sarawak.
“This is a very important policy that had been changed by the Chief Minister of Sarawak,” he added.
Adenan had agreed to help Chinese Independent schools because he realised the importance of education. The chief minister also touched the hearts of many Chinese by being vocal where he did not want the community to be labelled as ‘pendatang’ or ‘foreigners’, Dr Annuar pointed out.
“We, in Sarawak should work, live and progress together for the future of the state.” Towards this end, he urged all his Chinese friends to rally solidly behind BN-SUPP candidate for Bukit Assek, Chieng Buong Toon and himself.
He also hoped to see improvement in Chinese votes in the five polling stations in his constituency this time around.
“I am in Team Adenan and will work closely with the chief minister to ensure Sibu will make a real change,” Dr Annuar said.
Among those present were SPDP Nangka division chairman Teo Nging Poh, SUPP Nangka chairman Chua Beng Seng and SUPP Dudong chairman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck.