Andrew banks on RS1 as his campaign strategy
with a development plan for Sibu, and not just during the election time.
“Every time in my speeches and from now onwards, starting from this election, people should always ask the candidates, be it from the opposition or the government, what their development plan for Sibu is.”
He mentioned that Abang Johari’s announcement that Minister of International Trade and E- Commerce and United People’s Party ( UPP) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh would step down after his current term.
“Hence, we are left with not much time. We have to make sure RS1 is successful so that there will be RS2, RS3 and so on. And that all depends on this coming five years – that is my hope,” he said.
For Pelawan, he would be relying heavily on RS1 as the constituents, especially the Chinese community, are hoping to see greater development in Sibu.
“I am still banking on the fact that with RS1 – Chinese votes who went away from us ( BN) in GE13 – many will swing back to us based on the fact that we have a plan for Sibu.
“Hopefully, they will give me a chance to implement the plan.”
On the rural folk, he said they were very receptive to RS1, adding that they still needed basic amenities. RS1 is tackling it
RS1 bridges the rural and urban divide as well as urban Sarawak with urban Peninsula.
Asked on his chance of wresting Sibu seat, he rated it as 50- 50.
In the last parliamentary election in 2013, DAP fielded a new face – pharmacist Oscar Ling Chai Yew, who garnered 26,808 votes to win the Sibu seat, edging Temenggaong Dato Vincent Lau who polled 23,967 votes, while Independent candidate Narawi Haron received 203 votes.
This time, Wong expects a multi- cornered fight with the possibility of independent candidates springing up in the eleventh hour.
However, the showdown will be narrowed down to between him (Andrew) and the incumbent Oscar Ling.
Asked on their election machinery, he said it’s already up and running.
“The operation room at UPP Bawang Assan office has already been activated,” he said.
Asked if he would be requesting for backup from SUPP during campaigning, Wong said each has its own machinery running already.
“We will get SUPP branches to help when we feel there is a need to do so because our machinery is already running. Bringing them in halfway for everything might not work.
“We might bring them for some aspect of our election (campaign). I think the same thing for Lanang – if you were to ask Kevin Kong ( BN candidate for Lanang) – I think he will say the same thing.
“You don’t want to go in and mess up the whole thing – better let the machinery work by itself. To me, honestly, there is no difference between UPP and SUPP now.
“I think UPP members in Lanang should go all out to support Kevin. I hope all SUPP members in Sibu will come out and support me – to show a united front this GE14.”
For the record, Sibu seat is made up of 62.8 per cent Chinese voters.