By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 31: Despite starting out differently, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian ended up following in his late father’s footsteps by becoming Deputy Chief Minister, which he declared as a tremendous honour to be able to serve Sarawak and bring betterment for all Sarawakians including the Chinese community.
Apart from the elevation to Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Sim continues to take charge of the Ministry for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government in Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s new Cabinet, announced yesterday.
“I humbly resolved to honour that trust and look forward to giving my best alongside my colleagues and fellow Sarawakians, to work hard for the betterment of all anak-anak Sarawak, including the Chinese community.
“Let the work begin. With you, for you — majulah Sarawak,” he said in expressing his sincerest gratitude to Abang Johari for the appointments in his social media post last night.
Dr Sim admitted that the achievement was also a personal one for him and his family as his late father Datuk Amar Sim Kheng Hong was first appointed as Minister for Local Government in 1970 and appointed as Deputy Chief Minister in 1974 under the third Chief Minister of Sarawak, the late Tun Rahman Ya’kub, and followed by Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the fourth Chief Minister.
“I was appointed as Minister for Local Government in 2016 (under the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) and became Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak in 2021 (under Abang Johari). Both were my late father’s Cabinet minister colleagues.
“Coincidentally, my current office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia was the same as my late father’s.
“This year also marks the 10th year since my involvement in politics,” he shared.
In a strange but interesting twist of fate, Dr Sim was awed by how he and his late father ended up in politics holding almost similar positions in the government even though they started from different paths.
“He was a hard-working contractor and later a successful timber merchant before going into politics. Likewise, I am blessed to be a public hospital cardiologist and clinical researcher holding professional office at the national and international level before entering politics.
“Life may be a destiny determined by God, but you still need to take steps and try hard in the journey of life,” he added.— DayakDaily
