Taib has taken care of the Chinese — Wong

Posted by admin News Thursday, March 31st, 2011



Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud

SIBU: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has always tried his best to take care of the Chinese community in the state since he took office on March 26, 1981, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yesterday said.

Wong, who is the Bawang Assan incumbent said people had claimed that despite being chief minister of Sarawak for 30 years Taib still did know not what the Chinese community wanted.

He said this was a remark aimed at discrediting Taib and Chinese leaders in the state.

“It all started when Taib made a statement that after so many years he still does not know what more the Chinese community wants.”

Wong said this remark had been purposely twisted by some people and Chinese non-governmental organisations to give it a negative meaning.

“This is most unfair to our chief minister.”

Wong, who is Second Finance Minister and Minister of Environment and Public Health, pointed out that the chief minister was instrumental in making the land premiums here the cheapest in the country.

“Taib has all along helped to provide land for churches, mission and Chinese schools, temples and cemeteries for the Chinese,” he added.

For schools in Sibu, he pointed out Taib had given a land to build SJK (C) Thian Chin in Permai Road, SJK (C) Su Lai in Apollo Road and SJK(C) Thian Hua in Sibu Jaya.

The chief minister also granted an allocation of RM250,000 each to SJK (C) Sacred Heart, SMK Methodist, SMK Sacred Heart and SMK Saint Elizabeth.

“Besides, he has given two acres for the construction of Hwei Ann Methodist Church and 6.5 acres for Tien Ann Temple in Oya Road,” he said.

The most recent notable contribution by Taib, Wong said, was the allocation of 2000 hectares for the Chinese independent secondary schools.

On the claim that Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leaders had failed to bring issues and problems faced by the Chinese to the attention of the government, Wong said this was not true.

“We’ve tried our best to highlight the issues and problems. Some of the problems can be resolved easily while some take time.”

He said in a multiracial society like Sarawak, one demand from a community might bring about a counter demand from the other communities.

“We are in a multiracial society. We have to have the spirit of give and take, mutual understanding and goodwill. This is what Sarawak Barisan Nasional is trying to do.”

Source: The Borneo Post

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