SARAWAK POLLS | Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing said he is running for the Dudong state assembly seat because he is a local.
"My opponents said I was parachuted here. That's not true. I grew up here," said Tiong during a joint interview in Sibu yesterday.
Tiong's candidacy in Dudong as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) representative was criticised by his DAP opponent Paul Ling on Dec 6 because the former is already the Bintulu MP and special envoy to China.
Ling had questioned whether Tiong could tend to Dudong's constituents when the latter had commitments in Sibu, Parliament and in China.
Tiong brushed this off, declaring that he has roots in the area and his team has already hit the ground with the election campaign.
"Some said I’m based 200km away (in Bintulu). It's only fair to ask the DAP candidate why some Dudong people told me they didn't know of him, although he's supposed to be nearby?
"But that's not the point. What's important is whether the candidate is sincere. Is your heart set on serving the people and not just airing your views during an election?" he said.
Tiong said politics and serving constituents was a team effort and he has been serving his Sibu constituents.
Never neglected constituents
"I may be the special envoy to China, but you should ask the Bintulu constituents: 'Do you feel neglected by your MP?'," he added.
Tiong, 60, is best known for being the Bintulu MP since 1999 and has been very vocal in the Dewan Rakyat.
His business activities - which ranged from the medical industry, timber and property development - are now low key.
He is currently a board member and substantial shareholder of Timberwell Bhd. He was previously the CEO of Wijaya Group of Companies (now Maxim Group) and set up the Wijaya International Medical Centre (now Beacon Hospital).
Tiong sees major opportunities in Sibu's shipbuilding industry. Although Sibu is 113km inland, Sibu sits on the banks of Sungai Rajang and has a wharf that handles 450,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
According to Bernama, the Sibu shipbuilding industry had generated RM279 million worth of exports for Sarawak in 2018, RM349 million in 2019 and RM168 million up to October 2020.
Tiong said he has been lobbying the state government and foreign businesses to hire Sibu shipbuilders.
"This will (create jobs) and help the youths stay in Sibu. A lot of people are claiming that Sibu has an ageing population.
"I am part of Sibu. I don't want Sibu to become a retiree town," he said.
Another part of Tiong's campaign platform is to resolve the frequent flooding issues in the Sibu area.
One of the solutions, he said, was proper concrete-lined drains and not the dug-out drains found in much of Sibu.
The Dudong election will be widely watched because of Tiong's stature and because eight candidates are vying for the seat - the most in this election.
The seat was won in 2016 by Tiong Thai King (no relationship with Tiong King Sing), who stood as a "BN-direct candidate", which meant using the BN logo on the ballot slip despite not being a BN component party member, and he won 46.4 percent of the vote.
Given this backdrop, Tiong does not believe that his position as an MP or special envoy gives him any advantage.
"Some of the candidates may be novices, but perhaps they have stronger grassroots.
"Perhaps they know the place better. There are no areas I can claim to have the upper hand," he said.
Unhappy with his candidacy
One widely speculated disadvantage for Tiong is the fact that his GPS ally Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) is unhappy with his candidacy.
According to Supp president Dr Sim Kui Hian, his party considered Dudong a "traditional seat" for the party and was shocked that it was allocated to PDP.
Asked if he was worried about any revolt from Supp members, Tiong said he would not discount it but urged them to be rational.
Tiong said PDP was once allocated 11 seats during elections but now are down to six. Nevertheless, his party would not sabotage fellow GPS parties.
"For instance, in Opar, we have a Supp candidate. The proposer and campaign room manager are PDP members. We will support (our allies).
"I appeal for GPS allies to unite, for we can then help the people secure a better future," Tiong said.
- Mkini
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