Former UPP president Wong Soon Koh said he incumbent Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem had the people of state on his mind even when critically ill at the Kuala Lumpur National Heart Institute three years ago.
Adenan's family members came home from all over the world fearing the worst, he said.
"When my wife and I went to visit him, he was still a bit conscious. He opened his eyes and said, "I worry for my people, I worry for my people". After this, he shut his eyes and, I thought he left the world just like that.
"After that, he recovered, and became our chief minister. I think it was given by God.
"He told me, 'In my life, I want to work more for Sarawakians.' He only asks for five years (to continue as Chief Minister)," he said in a speech in Sibu today.
Adenan took over as CM in 2014 and said he will retire after one more term, if re-elected at the polls on May 7.
Wong, who resigned from UPP to contest as BN direct candidate at the May 7 state polls, spoke at a UPP event to launch election machinery for the polls, ahead of the nomination day tomorrow.
Although UPP does not formally have any candidates, three direct BN candidates are closely-affiliated with the party.
They are Wong, Tiong Thai King and Janet Lau, who is the late Sibu MP Robert Lau’s widow.
The trio resigned from UPP to contest as BN direct candidates at Bawang Assan, Dudong and Pelawan respectively.
The candidates were feted with a 200-table dinner, attended by supporters who were mostly clad in dark blue T-shirts reading ‘Undilah BN’ (Vote for BN).
The event was held at King Wood Hotel, owned by Hii King Chiong, a tycoon and former UPP member who is contesting for Pujut as BN direct candidate.
The candidates arrived at the venue one after another to cheers and applause from the supporters, who came from different parts of the state.
Supporters also enjoyed a dance show set to lively pop music.
Wong took to the stage as his favourite song ‘Magnificent horse’ played in the background, matching the Chinese zodiac he was born under.
No 'ubah' for the generations
In his speech, Wong reminded Sarawakians that there are only 15 Chinese-majority seats out of the 82 up for grabs come May 7.
As such, voters should not be duped into thinking it is possible to ubah in the next couple of decades.
"Next five, ten even twenty years, Sarawak will be ruled by BN government. This is something we all know.
"Chinese majority seats are only 15, others are all Bumiputera……If you want to ubah, I dare not say (it would succeed) in next generation or next two generation," he said.
Ubah is the Malay word for ‘change’, and has been adopted as a campaign slogan by the DAP since the 2011 Sarawak polls.
Wong said the Chinese community must explore whether they should continue to back the opposition, and the repercussions of this.
The incumbent Sarawak minister of Finance (II) and minister of local government and community development said as the only ethnic Chinese minister in the state cabinet, he is frequently asked why he is helping the Chinese when the community does not support him.
"(The late Sibu MP) Robert Lau once told me: My biggest regret throughout political life was being unable to win Chinese votes. The Chinese vote has been lower than 50 percent in every election," he in a speech in Sibu today.
Wong said Lau’s statement of regret has remained with him ever since.
After the speech, the three candidates also made "Zongzi", a dumpling which name sounds similar to the mandarin words for “sure win”, before posing with UPP mascot ‘Ooh Ha’ the Eagle. -Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.