Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew
THE first hundred days for Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew as deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council have been both challenging and motivational as the young councillor took a series of bold steps to lift the living standards of the townsfolk.
He has vowed to carry on with his People First Initiative in implementing policies and projects based on priority, merits and fairness to all.
Under chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King’s supervision and his team, he has gone down to the community, mingling with hawkers to improve petty trading, spurring the youths to rise in community building and checking public toilets and garbages to raise Sibu’s standard of public hygiene.
Wong, who is just 38, said as promised earlier, he is now willing to be judged on the performance of his first 100 days as the SMC No. 2.
Having fulfilled a long list of commitents in that time, he said he is also willing to be judged again after the next 100 days — and in a year’s time.
In his office last week, Wong laid out his charts for progress on his table, saying he had called in designers and professionals to plan with the council.
“Some plans are still on the drawing board. Within the next few years, we hope to rebrand and relaunch Sibu — with its diverse cultures — on a larger tourism plane.
The council is committed to do this with the backing of the state government and the community,” he told thesundaypost.
Wong was sworn in on January 28. Even before that, there were criticisms that his appointment smacked of conflict of interest because his father, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, is Local Government and Community Development Minister.
Critics also claimed the younger Wong was inexperienced and there were other more seasoned leaders in the community who should have been appointed.
This prompted Wong to appeal to his detractors and the townsfolk to give him time — say 100 or 200 days and even a year — to prove himself in the service of Sibu through the council.
Wong shaking hands with SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King after his installation.
He said he was committed to the development of higher education in Sibu through the setting up of Laila Taib College, Sarawak Maritime College and University College of Technology Sarawak.
“It’s now time to move on to fulfill the other aspects of Sibu’s progress through the council,” he stressed.
The young administrator said he was willing to take on these challenges.
The first 100 days have arrived and in the interview last week, Wong listed 12 of his public service accomplishments — upgrading of refuse collection service; street sweeping; grass cutting; public toilets; Central Market food court; infrastructure surrounding commercial centres; Sibu Public Library; Sibu Bus Terminal parking bay; roads; Sungei Merah Pasar Tamu and refuse bin centres; improvement of hawker trading conditions and formation of Sibu Youth Council.
“These are the major accomplishments. The minor ones are not listed because I see them as the duties of the council,” he said.
He thanked Datuk Tiong for his guidance, the councillors for their support and the council staff for their dedication.
Wong believes in working with “total efficiency and fairness,” saying light-heartedly that in dealing with the hawkers problems, he had been branded as Justice Bao — a legendary fearless judge of China’s Song Dynasty, who was daring enough to even execute the son-in-law of the emperor in the name of justice.
Wong tries to strike a happy medium — on the one hand, he could be strict in policy matters to ensure fairness to all while having a heart for the people’s problems on the other.
Not all 100 days were smooth sailing.
On several occasions, he was condemned by the opposition such as when he dealt with the licensing conditions of hawkers. But he has decided not to answer these criticisms, clarifying: “I’m not a politician. I don’t want to deal with political issues.”
He pointed out that he would deal with issues brought up by the opposition leaders that were related to council service.
“Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong once called on me with a letter enquiring on our services. I replied him promptly.
“I believe as the people’s representatives, some of the opposition leaders can also help the council serve more efficiently by bringing the voice and suggestions of the people to us.”
Wong said in the past 100 days, he had interacted well with the townsfolk, and the telephone in his office had been ringing off the hook.
“I even received calls at 9pm. I appreciate this interaction because the requests for service and the suggestions for improvements from the public were mostly genuine.”
Of the 12 accomplishments, he said the most satisfying was the formation of Sibu Youth Council.
“This is something new. The youths can support the council and help us see our service from their perspective.”
He added that the Sibu Youth Council was already teaming up for the upcoming Borneo Cultural Festival and would set up a Youth Pavillion to promote cultural and social interaction among young people.
Wong is optimistic about the future of Sibu.
“Sibu has a diverse lifestyle and culture. We will highlight this to promote tourism. I’m already looking into this, and for future plans, I will seek approval in the council.”
He hopes to continue getting support from the NGOs by working out smart partnerships with them.
“I expect there will be commitment on some tourist promotion. In the meantime, let us continue with what we have initiated and done.”
Andrew inspecting trading at the Central Market. On his right is Datuk Tiong Thai King.
The 12 accomplishments
DATO Andrew Wong Kee Yew’s 12 accomplishments during his first 100 days as SMC deputy president:
1. Improvement of garbage refuse collection, street sweeping and grass cutting by contractors to give the town a neat image.
Wong said scavenging contracting services were unsatisfactory from Maludan Road to Taman Indah.
The contractors were called in for a dialogue on February 8 and given 14 days to clean up the mess. The job done is satisfactory although there is room for improvement.
2. Upgrading of public toilets such as the ones at Central Market, Sibu Gateway, Kutian Garden, SEDC Food Court and others at public parks.
The contractors were again given a two-week deadline. The job done is satisfactory. The council will repair the damaged pumps and other toilet facilities. Installation of extra tanks is being considered as insufficient waterflow has been a problem.
3. Implementing hawkers’ trading conditions to boost the market and eatery image for visitors.
Wong said some traders had been staying away from business, leaving sections of the market empty. This has created a negative tourist image.
The council is watching this problem because places like the Central Market, night market and Muhibbah Food Court are hot tourism spots.
The problem is so serious at Central Market that on any given day, over 100 traders are not doing business.
The council now requires them to trade at least 25 days monthly. Forty-seven traders have been given show-cause letters on why their licences should not be revoked.
4. Formation of Sibu Youth Council to give young people a voice in Sibu Muncipal Council’s policy making.
5. Upgrading and refurbishing of Central Market Food Court to boost Sibu tourist hot spot.
Through Wong’s efforts, the council has received a grant of RM450,000 from the state government. The face-lifting project was completed on April 30.
The council will next refurbish the Food Court’s facade and put in 296 sets of chairs and tables for the eatery on the first floor.
6. Traffic flow improvement. Heavy traffic jam at Channel Road and Oya Road in front of Sacred Heart School has been a headache. The council’s survey showed illegal parking at Channel Road is the root cause.
The council has moved in to compound the offenders, and a whopping 700-plus parking tickets were issued in April alone. The situation has improved. The compound fee has been increased from RM30 to RM100.
To ease the jam at Oya Road, the council is working with Sacred Heart School. The process is on-going and an uphill task.
Wong said the situation was aggravated by adults resorting to quadruple parking when picking up their children, leaving only one lane passable on both sides of the road. The problem is further aggravated by two traffic lights on both ends of the road.
7. The council is resurfacing roads in commercial centres, starting with the areas surrounding Delta Mall. A fund of RM2 million has been allocated by the state government. For sinking roads surrounding the commercial centres like the one at the bus terminal, the council is looking at a permanent solution.
8. Upgrading Sibu Public library. To promote reading among children and youths, the council will provide Wifi service, launch monthly activities and buy relevant books and references.
Wong has sought donations amounting to RM80,000 from 20 private companies.
9. Upgrading of Sibu Bus Terminal parking bay at Pahlawan Road has been completed. An additional RM300,000 has been granted. This will be a short-term solution to the sinking land. The council will work for a long term solution.
10. Upgrading of roads. An additional RM2 million has been sourced from the state government. The council will raise the 1.2km long and 7.4metre wide Aman Road – at a cost of RM700,000. It will be completed by end of July. Other roads will be raised too.
11. Upgrading Sungei Merah Pasar Tamu at the request of the hawkers. The council has provided them with tables and canopies. The market ground has also been resurfaced. The traders are doing brisk business now.
12. Upgrading of refuse bin centres. These are stinky and messy. Wong has sourced for funding from a private company amounting to RM300,000 to upgrade these facilities.
Among the bin centres to be upgraded are those near Wisma Sanyan and Sarawak House and commercial centres in Sungei Merah, Rejang Park and Pusat Pedada.
Wong (third left) listening to problems of the night market hawkers.
About Andrew Wong Kee Yew
He was sworn in as the deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council on January 28, 2014.
He also serves as chairman of the council’s Standing Committee of Petty Traders and Market.
Before that, he was active in promoting higher education development of Sibu.
A Masters of Economics graduate from the University of Western Australia, he helped the state government set up Sarawak Maritime College, University College of Technology, Sarawak and the development of Laila Taib College.
He also played a key role in transforming Institute Executive Kuching to Executive College Kuching.
For 15 years, he has devoted himself to the service of education since his return from Australia in 1998 at the age 21.
He started working with United College Sarawak in 1999 and helped transform it into what it is today.
The College, renamed Laila Taib College in 2010, is housed in a new campus with land and buildings donated by Espirit Wealth Sdn Bhd and KTS group of companies.
It now has a student population of over 1,200, taking up diploma programmes recognised not only by the Education Ministry but also by the respective professional bodies.
Wong has almost single-handedly been responsible for setting up Sarawak Maritime College with financial assistance from the state government and Shin Yang Group Of Companies.
For two years, he played a key role in setting up University College of Technology Sarawak.
When first made CEO of United College Sarawak (UCS), he was only 25 years old.
Back then, critics said he was too young. One even said under him, the college would collapse within two years.
But, Wong said today, UCS, renamed Laila Taib College, is standing tall and providing free higher education.
Across the road is University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS), which he helped build. It is today the most advanced university in the country in terms of facilities built with state-of-art green technology.
On his appointment as the duty chairman of Sibu Municipal Council, he said: “I am willing to commit myself and work for it. Having accomplished my mission at Laila Taib College and UCTS, Sibu must grow with this world class education and its potential. I feel the development of the two must go together.”