Peter Hii
SANDAKAN: Newly appointed Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk Peter Hii (Hu Chang Lik @ Hii Chang Lik) has a vision to bring back the glory days of this former Sabah timber town that at one time was known as ‘Little Hong Kong’.’
The businessman, who has been entrusted to lead the Council, is in a hurry and is already looking at plans to fast track the development of the municipality that is in need of a strong economic base.
Despite being the home base of the former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, Hii said that the economy of Sandakan was very sluggish and the key role of the council would be to facilitate investments with the help of the state government.
“There are certain areas that I am looking at to create an environment for the development of industries that could boost our local economy as well as bring the much-need job opportunities for our youth.
“I assure you that proactive steps would be taken to spur the local economy and bring high-end development,” said Hii who is taking the political storm over his appointment as the council president in his own stride.
He said among other thrusts would be cleanliness of the town, getting the much-delayed Sandakan airport runway extension (for bigger aircraft to land and take-off) delivered without further delay, making Sandakan a choice tourist destination, as well as to develop the downstream industries in seafood, oil palm and timber.
“I will listen to development proposals and with an advisory team, select the best for Sandakan,” he said.
The appointment of Hii, a Sarawak-born permanent resident of Sabah, has kicked up a political storm as opposition parties questioned the state’s rationale in appointing a Sarawakian to the post.
Describing the personal attacks against him as ‘nasty and uncalled for’, he said that it would not get in his way to bring changes to the council that he hoped to be people and business oriented.
Hii said that as a Sabah-based businessman who has lived in Sandakan since 1969 (when he was only 17), he noted that the general feeling that the council needed to be more people-oriented and address issues facing ratepayers more effectively.
He also said he had received his permanent residency in 1978 and was a member of the Sandakan Municipal Council from 1988 to 1990 and 1991 to 1994.
“For those criticising me rightly or wrongly, I would like to tell them I take it with an open mind. I bear no ill will, my focus is for Sandakan.
“Do not judge me on my past, but do judge me at the end of my tenure i.e. if I have made Sandakan to be what it has been missing all this while,” Hii said in thanking Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Shafie Apdal and the Warisan State Government in having their trust in him.
“If I fail to carry out my duties and responsibilities, if I have not turned Sandakan into a booming municipality in the state, if I’ve not brought investments to our beloved town, then I am ready to face the firing squad,” he said.
However, Hii said that it was rather unfair to brand him when he had yet to start his work as the council president.
“All those harsh criticisms make me all the more resolute to carry out my responsibilities to the best of my capability,” he said, adding that he expected the brickbats though he bore no grudges against those even slandering him.
Political and community leaders as well as members of the public fully support the appointment of Hii as the new president despite objections from some quarters.
Hii’s appointment was criticised due to his Sarawak-born status.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), Datuk Liew Vui Keong said the appointment of Hii as is timely because the State Government is planning to develop Sandakan to become a town that is more advanced, beautiful and clean.
Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt said Hii, a businessman hailing from Sarawak, should be given a chance before criticizing him.
Wong said he was informed that Hii has been in Sabah for a long time and even possesses a MyKad with the “H” denotion that indicates permanent residency in the State.
Karamunting assemblyman George Hiew pointed out that nobody complained about Hill or his status during his tenure as councillor then.
“There were no complaints when he was a municipal councillor previously. Hii was born in Sarawak but he has stayed in Sabah for more than 50 years.
“We want a Sandakan where people live in harmony and feel safe. Where the economy is flourishing and we all feel proud to have a beautiful town,” he said.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Junz Wong said the New Sabah Government will put the interest of Sabahans above all but will not reject the contributions of non-Sabahans who are Malaysians.
“Those who are not born in Sabah but have stayed in Sabah long enough and are capable will be given the opportunity to contribute to the state and hence play a role in nation building,” he said.
Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun said that he is confident that Hii will be able to do an excellent job in carrying out his duty in one year.