Signature campaign achieves target
SIBU: The target to collect 300,000 signatures under the Open Sky for Sibu campaign has been achieved, said Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
Wong revealed that the signatures collected would be presented to the Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the airlines concerned.
The signature campaign is a joint project between Sibu Municipal Council ( SMC) and UPP central region to convince airlines and the Ministry of Transport of the need for an open sky policy here for direct flights to Singapore, Guangzhou or Fuzhou in China, or Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
Held in conjunction with Visit Sibu Year ( VSY) 2017, Wong launched the campaign at Sibu Gateway on Jan 15 this year.
“We have reached there (collecting 300,000 signatures) and we will present it to Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the airlines concerned, telling them that Sibu is a place to really aim at for direct connectivity,” he said.
Wong told reporters this when met after performing the earth- breaking for extension of the general office cum pastor parsonage project for the Iban Methodist Church at Fong Ming Road here yesterday.
He also mentioned about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak giving approval for Sibu to be elevated to a city.
When officiating at the recent national-level Chinese New Year Open House in Sibu, Najib said the proposal to elevate Sibu to a city would have his support, adding that this would bring many benefits to all the people of Sibu and the surrounding areas.
Wong said: “Although procedure-wise, we need Federal Cabinet to approve, I hope in not too distant a future that will come true because PM has already given his personal support.”
The senior minister further expressed optimism that elevating Sibu to a city status would make it better known to the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, in his speech earlier, Wong called for the people to rally solidly behind Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in this coming state election to give him a strong mandate.
He added that within a brief span of two years in office, Adenan had made 50 major policies and decisions to benefit all Sarawakians.
Wong pointed out that Adenan, being a caring leader, wanted to do more for the people, especially those in rural areas.
“We have this golden opportunity to support this very open-minded and caring CM. He really shows support, care, concern and love for the people under his care.
“We should give him a big mandate to enable him to rule Sarawak for the next five years.
“Henceforth, with the bigger mandate we give him, he will have greater power in bargaining with the federal government for fundamental rights which have been enshrined in the constitution when we formed Malaysia back to Sarawak.”
Wong urged all voters in Bawang Assan state constituency to support him if he was chosen as a candidate for BN in the coming state election, promising to bring more development to the area.
“If you elect me…I will be ‘Adenan’s team’ to enable him to do what he intends to do for Sarawak for the next five years,” he said.
We have reached there (collecting 300,000 signatures) and we will present it to Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and the airlines concerned, telling them that Sibu is a place to really aim at for direct connectivity. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development