‘A little bird, flying the nest’

An appeal from former Dudong state legislative assembly representative Datuk Tiong Thai King

Since the nomination day on the 6th December, the curtain has been raised for the battle of the 12th Sarawak state election. On the 18th December, fellow Sa rawakians will be casting their sacred votes to elect a new State Legislative Assembly for a 5-year term and to form the new state government.

The intense and heavy contest demonstrates the election’s great significance not only in influencing the country’s national politics, but also in determining Sarawak’s future and destiny in its struggle for autonomy.

Sarawak voters, including those who are going to cast their votes in Dudong, have lived through two very difficult years: our children had to stay away from school, those living outside Sarawak could not be reunited with their families, some facing a stress as they lost their jobs and livelihoods, and some had even lost their loved ones due to the pandemic. This catastrophe of the century has hit hard on the global economy affecting the whole mankind. Malaysia is not spared from this devastation and has suffered tremendously.

As we gear towards our election under this abnormal and trying time, we know this election is vitally important to our destiny, our own future and the prospects for the state’s future development and growth. It may also strongly impact on the future direction and course of Malaysian politics.

I have spent nearly thirty years of my life in my political career. I have served as a senator, member of parliament, town council chairman and state assemblyman. Reminiscing over my time in politics, I

have endless memories with mixed feelings and strong emotions.

I can still vividly recall the time of my last attendance at the state legislative assembly in 2020. When I entered the hall, my seating had been switched around as PSB had withdrawn from the government. As a result, I became an opposition member in the state assembly. I stood a long while at my newly designated seating and dreaded taking the seat. Deep down I was thinking hard and struggling with myself, “How did I end up becoming an opposition member?” My participation in politics, joining SUPP, had been under the kind guidance of the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai, and only later on with PSB (named UPP previously).

I joined politics with the hope of joining the government to bring about faster and better development to the state. I aspired to serve the community, our culture, Chinese education, our faith and religion and my constituency with dedication and sincerity, and irregardless of our racial differences. However, as the political landscape changed, I had no other option but to toe the party line. I do not lay blame on anyone. But when reality drifted apart from my political aspiration, I felt resigned and helpless and was deeply pained. Today, I have left politics, just like a little bird which has left its erstwhile nest.

I am very grateful and appreciative of the long-time support and affection for me from the voters in Dudong. Walking past every corner of the constituency and every longhouse and looking at all the familiar faces, it is like coming home, and the voters are like my family. Almost half my lifetime has been devoted to serving the people during my political journey with the hope of bringing genuine and high-quality services to them. I have done my best and I have no regrets.

In the early days, Dudong was very backward in infrastructure, lacking roads, water and electricity supplies. While still imperfect, all the long houses today are connected with roads, supplied with the necessary utilities and phone lines. I am proud to have witnessed the

progress and development we have made in Dudong. The ruling party has brought much development and transformation. The whole-hearted support and backing of the people had been my greatest motivation and consolation.

If I had opted to go the way of the opposition right from the beginning, I am certain we would not see all the changes and development in Dudong today. If we want to develop and make progress, especially in rural areas, we must elect an able and competent state assemblyman or member of parliament who has a sincere desire to serve his constituency. This is the most pragmatic and ideal choice.

It is my pride and honour to have served the people of Dudong. The sudden change of political direction turned me into an opposition assemblyman in the last two-andhalf years of my term. I had many unfinished development plans and visions which were halted for lack of funds. I had to help my voters by digging into my own pocket but the amount is still limited and insufficient. Hence, I harbour a great sense of guilt to my electorate and this has been a big regret for me in my political career.

Dudong is situated at the urban fringes and is mostly rural. Its development can and should continue at a fast pace. However, if a constituency wants more development and improvement to the quality of lives for its people, participating and joining the ruling party will be the most feasible and effective route.

I am not denying the role of the opposition to act as the check-and-balance towards the government in a democratic country. However, it is my view that in the political reality we face, only if we have good access to development resources and funding by choosing an assemblyman of the ruling party can we best meet and satisfy the development needs and demands of the people. Only then can the electorates’ interests be better served and fulfilled.

From the days of the late Tan Sri Pehin Adenan Satem as Chief Minister of Sarawak, every constituency under the ruling party was allocated RM8 million each year for its development purpose. This amounted to a total allocation of RM40 million over a five-year term. Development in oppositionheld constituencies stagnated and were confronted with many issues due to lack of funding and allocations. This is the reality which shows the huge difference and disparity between a ruling government and an opposition out-of-office. Thus, in a rulingparty held constituency, a lot of assistance can be provided to the churches, schools, associations, the underprivileged and those in need. When we have access to substantial development funding and allocations, we can surely and more easily develop the constituency in a faster and better way.

Looking at the repetitive rotational changes of government in national politics and the Sarawak election today, I firmly believe that voting for GPS, a moderate, inclusive, diverse but unified, harmonious and cooperative government will be crucial for Sarawak so as to ensure a rapid pace of development and progress. Sarawak has set an exemplary model of racial harmony, inclusiveness and equality. The strive for Sarawak’s autonomy as initiated by former Chief Minister the late Tan Sri Pehin Adenan Satem has been the turning point for our state which was left behind developmentally under the unfair agenda of the Federal Government. We are gradually seeing the return of Sarawak’s rights, respect and status. The future of Sarawak is in the hands of Sarawakians. And we must reject the transference of racist ideology and religious extremism from west Malaysia to our state.

Since assuming the position of Chief Minister of Sarawak, we have witnessed the political wisdom of Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Haji Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari in his moderate, fair and inclusive policies. His political ideology of putting people and development first is deeply-rooted and warmly received by Sarawakians of all races. His insistence to negotiate and even to pursue legal recourse to claim against Petronas for the rightful royalty due to Sarawak had yielded huge rewards. For the past three years, the state has successfully reclaimed RM7billion in oil and gas royalties. This fully demonstrated Tan Sri’s political courage, acumen and foresight. He has conceived a grand plan and mapped an economic blueprint to further modernise, digitalise and industrialise through technology and innovation, the state to the benefits of all our people. The annual RM10 million allocations for the independent Chinese high schools and other assistance for Chinese societies and religious bodies had regularly been disbursed. These all serve to prove that he is a good leader who is kind, big-hearted and who will treat Sarawakians of all races and walks of life fairly and equitably.

Vote for GPS, a Better Tomorrow for Sarawak!