Datuk Lau Nai Hoh
SIBU: President of Sibu United Chinese Association (UCA) Datuk Lau Nai Hoh vowed his association would continue playing constructive roles to coordinate efforts of the community and the government for the benefit of Sibu in general.
Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, he said Sibu UCA was the umbrella body for all Chinese organisations in town, adding his association had acted as the bridge between the community and the government towards greater participation in community and nation building.
He said following the launching of their Sarawak slogan of “1Malaysia, 1Huazong” last Saturday, there was now a clearer vision for Huazong leaders to work with the people and government.
“I brought up a few development issues of Central Sarawak that night, including the elevation of the newly-extended Sibu Airport, the building of a new mini industrial park in the outskirts of Sibu after Sungei Merah and Lanang mini-industrial zones, the aqua-cultural development along Rajang River and the building of another shipyard after the exhaustion of the one in Rantau Panjang.”
He said his association would now follow up on these issues.
Lau was confident Sibu UCA could take the town to the next level of development through its coordination efforts.
“We shall now look forward to more dialogues to further cement the tie between the government and the people; we shall get the help and advice of Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Community Development.”
He said after the conceptualisation of the 1Malaysia slogan by prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the country had undergone great transformations, and the people had already felt the channels of communication with the government becoming smoother and broader in its open policies.
“No doubt, the Chinese community still has problems, but, with the nation in major transformation mode we have felt the sincerity of the government in reaching out.”
He hoped that with such goodwill the government would set up a coordination unit to allow direct access for the Federation of Sarawak Chinese Associations to the government.
On Pan Borneo highway, he hoped the federal government would allocate funds for its maintenance and upgrading as it was the only highway link in the state.
“Everyone knows that large part of the road is not well maintained.”
On ship building industry in Central Sarawak, he called on the government to open up a coastal land as lots in Rantau Panjang had all been taken up.
On aqua-cultural development, he said the hundreds of miles of Rajang River had not been well tapped.
“We have the rich natural resources. Together with aqua-cultural development, also build feed industry, food and beverage industry and transport and packaging industry along the river banks.”
Lau added: “There are so much the people and the government can do together to lift the socio-economic status of Central Sarawak.”