Battle for hot seat Sibu goes full throttle
Don’t worry what is happening in Peninsula. We just focus on making Sarawak into a developed state by 2030. Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew, Sibu BN candidate
SIBU: The battle for hot seat Sibu heats up as Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Dato Andrew Wong Kee Yew goes full throttle campaigning in Pelawan where the real battle will be fought.
Sibu is the only constituency in Sarawak to see a four- cornered fight in this election.
The candidates are incumbent Oscar Ling Chai Yew, 41, of DAP, Kee Yew, 42, of BN- SUPP, Jamie Tiew Yen Huong, 47,of Sarawak Peace Party ( Peace) and Simon Tiong Ing Tung, 50, of State Reform Party (Star).
While BN can be assured of strong support from its traditional stronghold of Nangka and Bawang Assan, Pelawan, a predominantly Chinese area, remains a tough nut to crack.
In fact, in the 2010 by- election and 13th general election in 2013, BN faced tough fight in Pelawan.
Pelawan, Nangka and Bawang Assan make up Sibu parliamentary constituency.
With barely 48 hours before polling on May 9, BN has to swing as many votes as it could in Pelawan to tip the scale in its favour.
Meanwhile, met after the leader-meet-the-people session at ‘ Simpang Tiga’ here yesterday, Kee Yew noted of better response than expected from the people in the Pelawan area
He said the areas covered were Rejang Park, Sibu Civic Centre, Taman Indah, Unicity, Seduan, night market and Ulu Sungai Merah.
“The response is better than I expected. The people are very receptive to what we are planning for Sibu. It is better than I expected. This is especially so when Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the upgrading of few roads here.
“All these roads are in Pelawan area – from Wawsan Road to Deshon Road to Ling Kai Cheng Road to Ulu Sungai Merah ( Road), and to Teku (Road). The people are very appreciative of what CM has approved,” added Kee Yew.
He said this reflected what Abang Johari had said all this time was correct, that only BN Sarawak would be able to solve the problem in Sarawak.
“Don’t worry what is happening in Peninsula. We just focus on making Sarawak into a developed state by 2030,” he said when asked on the momentum on the ground with campaigning heading into its eighth day yesterday.
On Nangka and Bawang Assan, he said he had the backup from Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee and Minister of International Trade and ECommerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Meanwhile, about 500 BN supporters turned up for the event yesterday, which started with an aerobic exercise.
There were food and drink stalls, mini games and lucky draws as well as showcasing of motorbikes during the event.
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, also attended the event.