Ting (seventh right) leads the cake-cutting ceremony joined by Tiang (right), Sempurai (fourth right), Lau (fifth right) and others.
SIBU: Clarence Ting Ing Horth regards his appointment as the new Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman, as ‘an uphill task’ to make the riverine town, which has been labelled by many as ‘old and tired’, more vibrant than ever before.
He believes that with the support from everybody, this task is achievable.
“I don’t think I can do it myself. I need all the support (from the councillors). I need Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) working together (with me), and I also need Sibu MP (Oscar Ling) as well to work together in making Sibu a better place.
“This what I have to do,” he told the guests attending Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Pelawan branch’s fifth anniversary and SUPP’s 60th anniversary gala dinner at Kingwood Hotel here on Saturday.
The event also hosted Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Dudong branch chairman, SRDC deputy chairman Robert Lau who is also SUPP Bawang Assan chairman, as well as representatives from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
For the record, PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP form GPS, which is Sarawak’s ruling coalition.
Earlier Ting, who is also SUPP Pelawan chief, said the Sarawak cabinet had approved two new appointments for SUPP, in addition to the positions of a city mayor and a municipal council chairman.
“Our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has reminded me that all these positions are given to SUPP so that GPS would be rightly placed come the next state election.
“In other words, all the appointees must work for the people, let the people know we are with them, let the people know (that seeking gains for) self-benefit is unacceptable, and let them know we are here for Sarawak,” he added.
In a press conference in Kuching last Thursday (Aug 22), Abang Johari announced the appointment of Ting as SMC chairman, along with Datu Junaidi Reduan as Datuk Bandar of Kuching North, and Dato Wee Hong Seng as Mayor of Kuching South.
Ting, 60, is no newcomer to the local authority, having served in SRDC as its deputy chairman between 2004 and 2013.
He is also Rajang Port Authority (RPA) chairman.
He received early education in SMK Methodist and graduated from York University, Toronto in Canada.
He is also actively involved in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as vice-chairman of Sarawak Society for the Blind (SSB), and chairman of SSB Sibu Division.
Ting is also a member of SMK Kwong Hua board of directors.
In politics, he joined SUPP in the 1980s.
In business, Ting is the managing director for Tanahmas Hotel in Sibu, as well as for Tebor Sdn Bhd and Ting Ming Hoi Enterprise; the director for Pansar Bhd, Sebuyau Holdings Bhd and Sin Hua Service Sdn Bhd; and the chairman of Moulin Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Political secretary to chief minister Michael Tiang was also present at the event.