SUPP on mission to topple DAP strongman
Published: Apr 8, 2011 9:15 AM | Updated: Apr 8, 2011 12:27 PM
Chieng Buong Toon, a naval architect by training, has earned the respect of his peers in the Sarawak United People's Party for daring to take on DAP strongman Wong Ho Leng in Bukit Assek.
Chieng Buong Toon, a naval architect by training, has earned the respect of his peers in the Sarawak United People's Party for daring to take on DAP strongman Wong Ho Leng in Bukit Assek.
Everyone in SUPP knows he is on a difficult mission against the incumbent, who is state DAP chairman and member of parliament for Sibu.
Chieng (left), a Sibu municipal councillor, is undaunted by the task of wresting back the seat from the DAP.
"It is not something impossible. I still remember when Ho Leng won Bukit Assek in 1996. Daniel Ngieng was tasked with taking back the seat, and he did it, only to lose to Ho Leng in the 2006 state election," he told Bernama.
Chieng said this proved that it was not impossible to beat Wong in Bukit Assek - "very tough, but not impossible."
Since being introduced as the potential candidate for Bukit Assek two years ago, he has been working hard in the area and has set up his service centre to respond quickly to grouses.
Sibu SUPP chief Wong Soon Koh is very impressed with Chieng's commitment to Bukit Assek residents.
“Not a day goes by without him serving the people. He is often seen either going from house to house or cleaning up the drains,” said Wong, who is Sarawak second finance minister.
That was how Chieng got the nickname "king of drain cleaning".
Wong, who is also state minister of environment and public health, said: "Most of the time, he does it (cleans drains and serves the residents) on his own. But we also assist him with some funds through the council, Public Works Department and my ministry".
The soft-spoken Chieng under the hot sun supervising drain repair or rebuilding work, sometimes as part of a flood migitation project, is a familiar sight in Bukit Assek.
"When I first took up this task, some thought it was just a show but, over the years, people have come to appreciate my effort, and many joined me in tackling this issue," he said of the nagging drainage problem in this low-lying business town.
Wong Ho Leng (right) himself has said that he could not under-estimate Chieng, given his service to the people.
Independent Hii Tiong Huat, 60, a social activist, makes the contest in Bukit Assek a three-cornered fight.
But most see the battle as essentially between Chieng, 58, and Wong, 52.
The Chinese-majority urban constituency has 26,926 registered voters for the April 16 state election.
- Bernama
Everyone in SUPP knows he is on a difficult mission against the incumbent, who is state DAP chairman and member of parliament for Sibu.
Chieng (left), a Sibu municipal councillor, is undaunted by the task of wresting back the seat from the DAP."It is not something impossible. I still remember when Ho Leng won Bukit Assek in 1996. Daniel Ngieng was tasked with taking back the seat, and he did it, only to lose to Ho Leng in the 2006 state election," he told Bernama.
Chieng said this proved that it was not impossible to beat Wong in Bukit Assek - "very tough, but not impossible."
Since being introduced as the potential candidate for Bukit Assek two years ago, he has been working hard in the area and has set up his service centre to respond quickly to grouses.
Sibu SUPP chief Wong Soon Koh is very impressed with Chieng's commitment to Bukit Assek residents.
“Not a day goes by without him serving the people. He is often seen either going from house to house or cleaning up the drains,” said Wong, who is Sarawak second finance minister.
That was how Chieng got the nickname "king of drain cleaning".
Wong, who is also state minister of environment and public health, said: "Most of the time, he does it (cleans drains and serves the residents) on his own. But we also assist him with some funds through the council, Public Works Department and my ministry".
The soft-spoken Chieng under the hot sun supervising drain repair or rebuilding work, sometimes as part of a flood migitation project, is a familiar sight in Bukit Assek."When I first took up this task, some thought it was just a show but, over the years, people have come to appreciate my effort, and many joined me in tackling this issue," he said of the nagging drainage problem in this low-lying business town.
Wong Ho Leng (right) himself has said that he could not under-estimate Chieng, given his service to the people.
Independent Hii Tiong Huat, 60, a social activist, makes the contest in Bukit Assek a three-cornered fight.
But most see the battle as essentially between Chieng, 58, and Wong, 52.
The Chinese-majority urban constituency has 26,926 registered voters for the April 16 state election.
- Bernama
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