Taib (fourth right) with Ragad (third right), Ting (fifth right), Wong (fourth left) at the CNY gathering.
Taib (sixth right) together with Ragad, Ting (fifth left), Wong (fourth left) and others at the cutting of the CNY cake.
Ting speaking at the dinner.
Taib stressing a point.
SMC councillor Wong Gin Gin poses with Ragad.
SIBU: Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has appealed to the people to dedicate themselves to nation-building in pursuit of their personal goals in life.
The Second Finance Minister said every individual had a responsibility toward oneself and to society.
He said as one pursued one’s personal goals in life one must remember that one also had an obligation to the society at large.
Wong, who is also Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said that ancient Chinese believed in a 12-year cycle in everything.
“In the economic front 1990 was a bad year and so was 2002. This year is expected to be a difficult and unpleasant year.”
He exhorted the people to work harder to let the cycle past instead of living in remorse.
“What matters most is for us to sustain racial harmony, social cohesiveness and political stability,” he said at a Chinese New Year gathering organised by Sibu United Chinese Association here on Monday.
“Under the capable leadership of the Chief Minister we have undergone period of unprecedented growth and we have experienced political stability and a social culture that people could come together and to live happily together.”
He said the people from different races in Sibu could sit next to one another to share drinks and food and thoughts.
“This scenario must not be taken for granted because it doesn’t come naturally but from the hard work and dedication of the leaders who have created a conducive environment for the people to live and to work and to do business.
“For the Chinese community, what is most worrying now is the little or inadequate political representation as a result of 2011 state election and the 13th general election.
“I hope the leaders especially the younger ones could re-assess what is happening around them, look things in a more proper prospective so that members of the Chinese community can stay in tune with the government,” he said.
He also urged to people to be alert lest they should fall to the propaganda of the Opposition that a change of government was necessary.
On problems that the people were facing he said they were best solved through their representatives in the government.
On the soft opening of University College Technology Sarawak (UCTS), he said the people must take great pride in the education institution.
According to Wong, UCTS was the brainchild of the Chief Minister who had seen the need of the university college to meet the need of SCORE which Sibu folk should count themselves fortunate as the town was situated along the belt.
“Do take advantage of the various opportunities generated by the implementation of SCORE.
“We are also very fortunate because we have within us the halal hub in Tg Manis and I know our chief minister has great expectations of Sarawak becoming a very developed state by 2020.
“Perhaps, by 2030 Sarawak will be the richest state in Malaysia,” he said.
Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Alfred Jabu, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapa’ee, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and Hock Peng Organisation managing director Datuk Toh Chiew Hock and Sibu United Chinese Association president Ting Hua Chyh were among those present at the function.