Sarawak Minister for Local Government and Housing Dr Sim Kui Hian is among friends and associates whom I regularly share my thoughts and views on current issues with.
I did so with my March 19 article ‘Zakir Naik not welcome to preach in Sarawak’, in which I concluded: “I urge my chief minister, Abang Johari Openg, to place Zakir Naik on the persona non grata list immediately. Keep this man and his deadly poison out of Sarawak.”
I forwarded that piece to Sim at 3.35pm and was very surprised to receive his response at 4.44pm – just one hour and nine minutes later.
His message included a screenshot of his WhatsApp conversation with the Sarawak immigration director in which he inquired whether the controversial preacher is on the persona non grata list in Sarawak.
The immigration chief’s reply to the minister was that “Zakir is on the blacklist”. So my poser has been answered.
What is more heartfelt here is that I did not specifically request Sim to check on Zakir’s status. I just shared the article with those on my contact list and they include some Sarawak cabinet members and lawmakers from both sides of the political divide.
I am glad that Sim took the trouble to check on Zakir’s status and informed me about it. Many Sarawakians can now breathe easier, perhaps, since it is now confirmed that Zakir is barred from entering Sarawak.
The latest allegation against the Muslim preacher (photo) - that he had accumulated assets worth RM113 million by diverting funds and donations received from Islamic countries meant for the welfare of Muslims - as reported by the Times of India, should give us more reasons to ensure that Zakir should never be allowed to set foot on Sarawak soil.
This was not the first time that Sim has responded to my queries, which I’ve shared with those on my mailing list. This month alone, he had done so on three occasions.
On March 4, I sent a note to GPS and Harapan lawmakers in Sarawak, appealing to them to work together to tackle the rabies epidemic and the dog culling exercise.
A Kuching friend had earlier contacted me, alleging that the culling of dogs was carried out indiscriminately. She also claimed that the operation, which was to contain the spread of rabies, was a hush-hush affair. According to her, the local Harapan MP was also unable to obtain much information from the authorities.
The need to set politics aside
In my note to the Sarawak legislators, I appealed to them to set politics aside as this was an operation which needed the cooperation from all quarters. I also asked the GPS government to be transparent on the allocation (initially it was RM9 million and later revised to RM31 million) for the dog culling exercise.
Sim received my message at 3.46pm and responded by 4.08pm – 22 minutes later. I’m not sure whether I have ever received such a swift response from any minister before this.
He informed that he had forwarded my note to Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah who chairs the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee. Sim was also kind enough to send me other relevant information and the contact numbers of persons of interest in the anti-rabies operation.
On March 27, I received a complaint from a former MP of a young foreign man who started a chicken farm on kampung land belonging to his local wife, a spinster who is much older than him. The farm breeds 6,000 chickens every four months for the local market in the district.
Two issues were brought up. The kampung folk were irked by the unhygienic condition at the farm and the question mark on the status of the immigrant. The former MP claimed that a check at the Immigration Department drew a blank.
In his reply, Sim informed me that he had contacted the local state assemblyperson and that he has been assured that the relevant authorities would act on the problem. He has also contacted the Sarawak police commissioner, who said his office will recheck the young man’s background although he has a valid document.
Well, a big thank you to Dr Sim for entertaining the many issues/complaints he received from me. He has set a fine example for other ministers and politicians.
People like myself who are not in government can only do this much by providing feedback to those in authority on issues affecting the public.
If those in power do not act on the legitimate grouses of the people, then it is up to you and me, the voters, to reject them via the ballot box.
Except to let the minister know that I’m grateful for his help, I will sing no song of praise for him.
Let my three friends who wrote to me, after I had informed them of Sim’s swift responses, do the honours. This is what they said:
“Let’s hope that we will have more ministers like Dr Sim.”
“The SUPP president is trying to do his best for the Chinese in Sarawak. He has been quite fair in distributing his grants to various groups who approached him for help.”
“It’s good that Sarawak has a responsive minister.”
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com - Mkini
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