Chong Boon Kian
LUNDU: While most young people leave Lundu to seek employment opportunities elsewhere, Chong Boon Kian was drawn here in 1964 at the age of 22.
Now 75, the coffee shop owner recalled there were only four to five rows of shophouses way back then.
Over the decades, he said development has gradually taken place with more shoplots built and government offices erected.
“We started to have road access in 1969. From then, business started booming a bit and we saw more government buildings,” he said when met at his coffee shop on Wednesday.
The father of four and grandfather of eight said he has not faced any major challenges in running his business for over 50 years.
However, he noted that many young people continued to leave the town for greener pastures.
“They cannot find a job here in Lundu. Most of them leave Lundu after secondary school. If they were to stay in Lundu, they would have to go into plantations like pepper.
“But how many young people are capable of that? Not to mention that most of them cannot take hardship,” he said.
Chong suggested the government introduce initiatives to attract investment by bringing in private corporations to develop more commercial blocks and boost tourism.
He said a factory could be set up here to offer jobs for young people, so they need not head to Kuching, Peninsular Malaysia or Singapore to seek employment.
“Lundu is a very scenic place. There are a lot of places of interest here such as the Gading National Park, Pandan Beach and Talang-Satang islands.
“Our Pandan Beach is more beautiful than the one in Santubong. Lundu has a lot to offer in terms of tourism but the problem is a lack of promotion,” he said.
He said Lundu is well connected to other parts of Sarawak and this would be further enhanced when the Telok Melano-Sematan road is completed.
Chong said he and his family are hardcore supporters of Barisan Nasional (BN), adding that two of his children, who work in Kuching, will return to vote during the Feb 18 by-election.
“Lundu is our home. It is a deep regret that Tan Sri Adenan Satem passed away so soon. If he were to continue his commitment for Lundu, we would see transformational changes.
“I hope his widow will carry on his commitment. We will continue to support BN and the candidate 100 per cent,” he pledged.
Chong added that Lundu folk, irrespective of race and religion, live harmoniously.
He said they “do not distinguish themselves from those of different races but get along well like a big family”.
“I cannot say for other places but in Lundu, we are close to one another like a family. I just hope that more development will happen in Lundu,” he said.
The Tanjong Datu seat fell vacant when former Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem passed away on Jan 11.
The by-election will see a three-cornered fight between BN candidate Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Rapelson Richard Hamit from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru, and the State Reform Party’s Johnny Aput.