Wong not seeking re-election in next state polls — Abg Jo
Wong Soon Koh will retire from politics after this term. That is why we place his son as candidate in Sibu, under SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party).
KUCHING: Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh will not seek re- election in the next state polls, which is due in 2021.
The Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce and United People’s Party ( UPP) president is expected to step down after serving the current term, which commenced in May 2016.
Wong, 75, was fi rst elected as the Bawang Assan assemblyman in 1991 and had successfully defended the seat in the subsequent state elections – 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016.
Before 1991, he was a one-term Igan assemblyman. The Bawang Assan seat was created following a re-delineation exercise prior to the 1991 state election, which saw an increase of seats to 56 from 48.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who made the retirement announcement yesterday, said Wong’s son Andrew will be expected to succeed him in
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
bringing about more development in the central town of Sibu.
“Wong Soon Koh will retire from politics after this term. That is why we place his son as candidate in Sibu, under SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party),” he said at a press conference at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) headquarters here.
Earlier, Abang Johari announced Andrew Wong, 42, as the Barisan Nasional ( BN) candidate for Sibu.
According to Abang Johari, who is state BN chairman, Andrew has already submitted his membership application to SUPP.
“Yes, he (Andrew) is a member (of SUPP). He submitted his form already,” he said, adding that Andrew will contest Sibu under the BN- SUPP ticket.
“I must express my appreciation to leaders of both SUPP and UPP for coming to a single platform,” said Abang Johari.
He believes that such unity will augur well for Sarawak, adding: “Sarawakians are united for the future of Sarawak within the context of Barisan Nasional.”
BN- SUPP lost the Sibu parliamentary constituency to Democratic Action Party (DAP) for the first time in the 2010 by-election which was called following the demise of then incumbent Datuk Robert Lau.
DAP succeeded in retaining the seat in the 2013 general election when its greenhorn Oscar Ling, who garnered 26,808 votes, defeated BN- SUPP’s candidate Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau by a 2,841 vote-majority.