Chang slams potential opponent Chieng for ‘dangling devt like a carrot’
SIBU: Bukit Assek incumbent Irene Chang has slammed Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) potential candidate Joseph Chieng for saying that not supporting him would mean constituents oppose development.
Calling the statement misleading, Chang said it was indicative of the mentality of some SUPP Sibu members.
According to her, if Chieng really has the heart to serve Bukit Assek folk, he would not dangle development like a carrot as it is the responsibility of the government of the day to develop every part of Sarawak, including Opposition-held areas.
“I therefore urge Chieng not to mislead the people by saying that only if he becomes the people’s representative for Bukit Assek would the development plans be easier to proceed,” she said in a press statement.
She pointed out the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has never objected to the Bukit Assek development plan.
“In fact, I have been working on a masterplan for the development of Bukit Assek since my tenure as Bukit Assek state assemblyperson,” she said, adding she had raised the issue for Bukit Assek to be developed in almost every State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
“In July 2018, May 2019, and November 2020, I have spoken in DUN about the master development plan for the whole of Sibu and an overhaul development plan for Bukit Assek.
“I wish to emphasise that even though DAP is an opposition party, we have never opposed the redevelopment of Bukit Assek, as we believe in our hearts that this is what the people deserve: a modernised, developed Bukit Assek.”
She pointed out that Chieng is currently one of two Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) councillors in charge of Bukit Assek and is also SMC Building Control and Town Beautification Standing Committee chairman.
“With his existing position in SMC in all these years, he should already have the power and authority to push on the development and beautification of Bukit Assek and should already have the trust and cooperation of the Chief Minister to push on the project,” she said.
“Even as an Opposition member, I have had gone as far as to acquire a viable development plan of Bukit Assek and to offer to the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government during a DUN sitting if they were interested to look at the plan, which they were not.”
According to Chang, her main concern is the flooding that occurs consistently each year in Bukit Assek.
“My plans involved creating little canal towns which, if the project successfully takes off, will enhance tourism in Sibu greatly and will potentially boost the economy,” she claimed.