KUCHING, Feb 2: Democratic Action Party (DP) Sarawak deputy chairman David Wong Kee Woan should address the issues affecting Pan Borneo Highway users instead of spreading ‘meaningless rhetoric’, according to Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Tiong in a press statement today claimed that Wong is ignoring other more serious issues as commuters continue to suffer from flat tyres, uneven road surfaces, and deficient warning signage and lights along the the Pan Borneo Highway.
“Wong is hard at work taking credit for any minor progress done on the highway. But what has he really achieved in terms of solving the highway’s numerous problems across its entire Sarawak span?
“Issues swirling around the Pan Borneo (Highway) are not new but Wong seems to have arrived late to the party as usual,” Tiong claimed.
He was responding to Wong’s statement on Jan 31, regarding the road section from Bintulu to Sibu in the Pan Borneo Highway Work Package 7 (WPC 7).
According to Tiong, Wong’s sole job on the project seems to be spreading propaganda for his political bosses.
He asserted that what is worse is that Wong’s statements make it seem as if every MP should be responsible only for the highway section in his own constituency.
“Does he think that the PH government only needs to complete the WPC7 section of the Pan Borneo? It is not responsible for all the other sections or within its scope? Does Wong’s voters only use this particular section and do not need to bother with the rest?
“Obviously, he is merely using the near completed WPC7 for publicity purposes, while the other sections languish in disrepair,” Tiong asserted.
He also found fault with the Pelawan assemblyman advising him (Tiong) to look into the Pan Borneo Highway section in his own constituency, which Tiong took to imply that the Bintulu-Sibu section is problematic.
Tiong claimed that Wong’s words are laced with pure speculation aimed at smearing his political opponents.
“Does he mean that only section of the Pan Borneo in Wong’s constituency is under the purview of JKR (Public Works Department) and not all others?
“Wong is also obviously unaware that due to the PH government’s lackluster performance, other MPs such myself had to resort to persuading relevant authorities on the Pan Borneo (Highway project) to improve the road conditions as soon as possible to ensure commuters’ safety.
“Negotiating with the highway contractors to open certain road sections for temporary use, as an alternative to the existing but less-than-ideal sections is to ensure road safety for commuters, not to seek publicity,” Tiong asserted.
He suggested that Wong should instead focus on issues affecting his constituents in Pelawan.
“Wong has accused me to being hostile and talking out of turn. I can also (point) the finger back at him and his party’s antics of provocations in the past.
“Again, it is pointless and meaningless to continue to cross swords on a daily basis in the newspapers and I had hoped that one day our words will be reported in the media on progressive matters. What is being said now does not move anything forward,” he added. — DayakDaily
