SIBU – There is no such thing as a sure win in an election, even for a very seasoned politician, said GPS candidate for Dudong, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Contesting for the first time in the constituency, the Progressive Democratic Party president is a five-term MP for Bintulu with quite a rich history in politics.
Tiong is touted as a strong candidate in the race for Dudong, which will see eight candidates slugging it out in the hotly contested seat – the highest number of multi-cornered fights in the 12th Sarawak state election.
“But the truth is, there is no such thing as a ‘sure win’ in this world. We must continue to serve the people with humility and sincerity,” he said in a post on Facebook today.
Anticipating an inevitable scattering in the eight-sided contest, Tiong said that engaging with the locals and taking note of their concerns is of high importance.
He stressed that politics is not about shouting slogans or gaining support by deception.
“In politics, I'll be upfront with you. If I am able, I'll get it done to the best of my abilities. Otherwise, it is wrong to promise the sun and the moon, and come up with nothing in the end,” he said in the post.
The prime minister's special envoy to China said one must be down to earth and help the people envision the future.
“It is useless to rush out with grand plans without walking alongside the people of Dudong and solving local issues by prioritising the most urgent needs such as infrastructure and flood mitigation upgrades,” he said.
“To the question of whether I will continue my duties as Bintulu MP and special envoy to China, I would say that I am nothing without a trustworthy team because I cannot do it all alone,” he further said in his post.
“You may ask the people of Bintulu whether I have ignored them since being appointed special envoy. I may have lapsed on some matters but this is normal for everyone.
Tiong said that through various channels, he had done his best to find the best ways to resolve the issues brought to his attention.
He expressed his hope that voters can rationally choose candidates who have proven to make a difference in the areas they serve.
“If they are worthy of your trust, give them a chance. Choose the state assemblyman who deserves it,” he said.
Apart from Tiong, vying for the Dudong seat are Wong Hie Ping of Parti Sarawak Bersatu, Parti Bumi Kenyalang candidate Jane Lau, Julius Enchana of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru, Paul Ling of Democratic Action Party, and Josephine Lau of Aspirasi.
Fadhil Mohd Isa and Engga Unchat are contesting as independent candidates. – Bernama, December 9, 2021
