By Lian Cheng
SIBU, Feb 6: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is confident in wresting two seats, while claiming rights to contest in another two constituencies in Sibu in the coming state election.
Its Sibu chairman Dato Chieng Buong Toon held such strong belief, in view that Pakatan Harapan-led federal government with Democratic Action Party (DAP) as one of its component members, had yet to make good on its election promises.
“This time around, we hope to take all four seats (state constituencies). This is because the people are not happy with the Pakatan government, which has made many promises and U-turns in its policies.
“This state election is very important for Sarawak, it is do or die for us. We cannot just ‘cincai’ (do it haphazardly),” he said at his Chinese New Year open house here today.
He made reference to the four Chinese-majority constituencies in Sibu namely Bukit Assek and Pelawan, which are currently held by DAP, as well as Bawang Assan and Dudong that belongs to SUPP breakaway party United People’s Party (UPP), which recently rebranded as Parti Sarawak Bersatu.
Chieng believed that if Pakatan took control of Sarawak, they might be lax in exercising the state’s immigration autonomy, thus allowing those from peninsula to come in easily, including racial and religious bigots or extremists.
SUPP second deputy president said the party had also identified potential candidates for the four seats.
“This time around, we only identify one potential candidate for each constituency. In fact, they are already moving on the ground but we will leave it to the central leadership to make the announcement,” he said.
On other matters, Chieng said Sibu needed a masterplan for further development, while creating more job opportunities for graduates and school-leavers.
“Sibu used to be on the forefront (in economic growth). Now it is far behind Kuching, Miri and Bintulu in terms of development. We hope Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will come out with a masterplan to redevelop Sibu.”
He pointed out that Sibu, strategically situated in the state’s centre region, has rich hinterland further supported by towns such as Kanowit, Song and Kapit.
Chieng, who is a naval architect by profession, identified shipbuilding as a niche industry for Sibu that could be further developed and expanded upon.
Touching on Bukit Assek, he suggested building high-rise buildings such as condominiums and apartments, which could be given on a one-to-one basis to those who have landed properties in the area.
This considering that the vast area in the constituency, is low lying and many houses are sinking and collapsing. The area occupies 300 acres of land and is just a stone’s throw away from Sibu’s bustling central business district,
He also said that the area needed a proper drainage system and road network to make the area more liveable
Chieng claimed that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had agreed to the housing idea in principal and that he would submit a proposal at the latter’s next visit to Sibu. — DayakDaily
