KUCHING: The Chinese community in Sarawak still wants the deputy chief minister (DCM) post, which the State Cabinet used to reserve for Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP).
“We urge the new chief minister (Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg) to appoint (Local Government Minister and SUPP president) Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian as a DCM in the next cabinet reshuffle,” said Datuk Dr Ngu Piew Seng, president of the Federation of Foochow Associations Sarawak on Sunday.
He made this call as the guest-of-honour during the Lunar New Year dinner by the Kuching Yung’s (Foochow) Club at Thian Court, Crown Square here.
SUPP lost the portfolio following its election setback in 2011 when the state’s oldest political party managed to retain only six out of the 19 constituencies it contested.
Then SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, also DCM at that time, was defeated by Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Alan Ling in Piasau.
Ngu asserted that it would only be fair to the Chinese community if Dr Sim was appointed as a DCM.
Although he did not justify the statement, he earlier hailed Dr Sim who is Batu Kawah assemblyman and Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang as ‘true statesmen’.
He said he personally observed that both Dr Sim and Lo had been serving the community.
“They have been working hard since they were elected to represent the people in the State Legislative Assembly last May. When they do well, I sing praises for them.
“At the same time, I also hope Dr Sim will take care of Sri Aman instead of Kuching only. As you know, we need a hospital in Sri Aman.”
Ngu lamented that work on the proposed Sri Aman hospital was supposed to commence in 2013 but up until now ‘piling works are still ongoing’.
Appealing to the government to keep its promise, he hoped that Dr Sim would convey the wish of the people of Sri Aman to have a hospital to Putrajaya.
“I am very pleased that the Pan Borneo Highway is implemented. We, the Chinese, do not oppose just for the sake of opposing. If the government has done well, we shower compliments; if the government fails to deliver promises made, we are left with no choice but to criticise.
“I am not opposing the government when I voice this concern. This is called airing grievances as the government did not deliver its promise,” Ngu said.
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