(from left) Dr Annuar, Wong, Tiong, and Andrew at the press conference.
SIBU: The road at Town Square Phase 2 will be named Lau King Howe Road while Town Square Phase I will be named after the second governor, Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Haji Othman.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who announced this at a press conference here yesterday, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had given his nod for these changes.
He said since the naming of the road had been an issue for Sibu folk for quite some time, he, with Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, Temenggong Datuk Wan Hamid Edruce, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, deputy chairman Dato Andrew Wong, and Temenggong Vincent Lau, decided to approach Adenan to resolve this issue.
“It had been decided that the road be named Lau King Howe Road and because of its historical setting where the place belonged to the Malay community in Sibu, we’ve decided to name the Town Square Phase I as ‘Dataran Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Othman’.
“The decision that we made together is based on the consensus among the leaders of both communities (Malay and Chinese) to solve the issue once and for all.”
He said it was a harmonious decision for the good of the people of Sibu, instead of going for signature campaigns that aroused lots of emotions among Sibu folk.
Dr Annuar said the issue was even raised by both sides of the political divide in the State Legislative Assembly.
“Consensus is the best way to solve problems, and I am glad that we are able to reach this stage.
“Both Lau King Howe and Tuanku Haji Bujang Tuanku Haji Othman made great contributions to both communities, and I think it is appropriate that we made this decision.”
Meanwhile, Andrew said the renaming could become official before June.
He said the matter would be tabled at the next general purpose standing committee meeting, endorsed in the full council meeting at the end of March, and be submitted to the state geographical department for final confirmation.
“I believe that before June, we should be able to settle everything.”