Wong leaves behind big shoes to fill
SANDAKAN: I remember it like it was yesterday, when the late Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt tried to hold back his tears, but failed, and ended up crying in front of some 200 attendees during a dinner to celebrate his victory in the Sandakan parliamentary seat.
The dinner, held at Kenalanmu Seafood Restaurant on May 19 last year, was a simple but memorable one as it was Wong's first function in Sandakan after the change of government.
“It was held in appreciation and celebration of Democratic Action Party's (DAP) supporters and volunteers who had contributed to DAP winning all three seats, including the Sandakan parliamentary seat, the Tanjong Papat state seat, and the Elopura state seat.
Wong was on stage, thanking his supporters. His voice began to tremble as he started tearing up. He wiped his tears with both his hands and continued saying: “I was Sandakan MP for five years as an opposition leader. Honestly, I had trouble falling asleep at night on most nights, thinking about how I was so helpless when it comes to helping the people of Sandakan; worse is when I know the solution (to their problems) but I could not do anything as I did not have the allocation to do it.
“But now that we are the government, I will try my best to serve the people of Sandakan.
“So I want to thank those who supported us, those who donated money and even food to us during the campaigning period, which felt like a war, one that we have won. Thank you,” he said.
As I looked at him while taking notes, I was struggling not to cry as I thought it would be embarrassing to cry in front of the other reporters. I was truly moved by what he said because I knew him, and I knew that he was sincere in his fight for the people.
I have been a reporter in Sandakan since 2013, back when he was the deputy chairman of DAP Sabah and Sandakan MP. I had followed his political journey for five years until he was appointed as the Minister of Health and People's Wellbeing last year.
I knew that he had been in and out hospitals in Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, and I thought that he would take things slow after he was appointed as a minister; but I was wrong, he was more active than before.
Wong became one of the most hardworking ministers that I know. He never took a break; he was always in a hurry as his schedule was always very tight. He would fit in three to five functions in a day just to personally attend as many functions as possible in Sandakan.
Upon receiving the news of Wong's death yesterday, many locals expressed their thoughts that Wong was a very hardworking representative, and many opined that his health was affected because of his busy work schedule.
During the last election, Wong often makes a promise that he would ‘stay present to the people of Sandakan', and he kept his promise even after he was appointed as a minister. Wong and his fight will be remembered by the people of Sandakan.
Whoever becomes the next Sandakan MP, will have a big pair of shoes to fill.