By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Dec 23: “Maybe faith saved them on the dreadful day.”
These were the words said by a former fisherman of 20 years, Ho Hong Ing when he recalled a dreadful fishing incident in the coastal waters of Sarawak where he had saved four fishermen in 1988.
“The weather was terrible, with waves as tall as 12 to 15 feet, so I anchored my fishing trawler and stopped my fishing activities. I suddenly got a radio call for help from my friend, who is also a fisherman, that he was in trouble and his trawler had broken down.
“I told him to stay calm and that I will be on my way. When I located his boat with him and three crewmembers one and a half hours later, they were clinging to their already capsized boat,” he said to DayakDaily.
He said the desire to help those in need has stuck with him since that day. With the business philosophy ‘have a good heart when serving customers’, Ho decided to open Tai Ing Tyres & Batteries Co. and has carried the philosophy 30 years later.
As people will return to their hometowns this festive season, Ho reminded vehicle owners to inspect their cars before going on the long journey as many garages and vehicle repair shops will be closed.
“Check your car’s battery, tyres, spares, motor oil, radiator, and coolants. These are simple things that a vehicle owner must check even though you think your car is new as any issues faced could cost you as you’d have to have your vehicle towed,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said he understood how people feel when they are desperate. On this festive occasion, he does not want them to be in such a situation whereby they’d encounter problems with their vehicles, such as a dead battery or flat tyre.
“I always tell my children and crew to have a good heart when dealing with customers. They come to get our services as they need help, so we do our best to ‘rescue’ them.”
“When we work, we must strive to succeed. There will always be a stormy period; if it goes like that, we must pause, ponder, and go on.
“I believe if you help others in good faith, they will come back to you,” he said, hoping his son would take over the business he built.
Tai Ing Tyres & Batteries Co. is located at 179 Taman Hui Sing Commercial Centre in Kuching. For inquiries, call 013-584 7319. — DayakDaily
