SIBU: The Chinese community here has been reminded to unite politically to avoid polarisation which is very unhealthy in a multi-racial society.
Giving the reminder was United People’s Party (UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
He said being an ethnic Chinese minister in the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, he had repeatedly appealed to the Chinese community to unite.
“We have now a good chief minister in the person of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who has a clear vision and is decisive in establishing an efficient and clean government with emphasis on integrity, accountability and good governance.
“Thus, the Chinese community should relook at their political approach of being confrontational, and rally behind such a good chief minister and support him in building an all-inclusive government,” he said when officiating at a Parents’ Day gathering jointly organised by UPP’s seven branches in the Central Region last Sunday at a hotel here.
The branches are Bawang Assan, Dudong, Pelawan, Bukit Assek, Kanowit, Sarikei and Bintangor.
Wong, who is Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said the Chief Minister was ever ready to listen to the voices of the Chinese community and was making real effort to address some of the issues faced by the Chinese community.
“He (Adenan) had, for example, given grant amounting to RM3 million for Chinese independent secondary schools in the state last year, and RM4 million for the same this year.
“Our Chief Minister has also announced the abolition of the Lanang Bridge toll with effect from May 25. Our Chief Minister has people’s welfare and well-being at heart. He has managed to persuade both concessionaires, Tan Sri Ling Chiong Ho of (Shin Yang Group) for Lanang Bridge, and Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong of (KTS Group) to agree to such historic decision (toll-free bridges),” Wong said.
On the Parents’ Day gathering, he said the objective was to promote filial piety.
“One who is filial to parents is naturally loyal to friends and to his party.”
He also mentioned that UPP was working hard within the BN family to bring about better life and better days for all.
Party Youth chief Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, Women’s Section chief for Central Region Chang Siaw Ling, Dudong branch chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and the gathering organising chairperson Jamie Tiew were among those present.