KUCHING, May 14: In conjunction with Mother’s Day today, Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing reminded everyone to spend time with their mothers with every opportunity they have.
In a Facebook post today, Tiong expressed that during his recent trips to China, he felt a strong connection to his ancestral homeland, which his parents had yearned to return to when they were alive.
“Sadly, there were no opportunities to take them to see the colourful world to make new memories. This makes me miss my parents even more,” he said.
Tiong, who is also Malaysian Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, said that his day-to-day schedule is packed with visits and meetings, allowing him the privilege to go to various places and understand the customs and local cultures.
According to him, all the experiences were eye-opening and broadened his horizons, but what touched him the most about these experiences was that they reminded him of his own life growing up.
“My family, as well as others, were not rich. On the contrary, our lives were simple with many family members and extended families, and travelling was considered an unreachable extravagance.
“So how sweet it was when I could finally step into society and progress in my work, to finally bring my parents for leisurely trips and see all the beautiful things they have never seen. I was tasting different cuisines and seeing foreign cultures and customs.
“Sadly, venturing into politics and serving my constituencies meant fewer family trips. As a result, the older generation sometimes harbours a ‘hometown’ feeling for China,” he said.
Tiong’s mother, the late Soung Yong Tie, passed away at the age of 102 in 2015 at her residence in Sibu. — DayakDaily
