Sarawak polls: Wong Ho Leng's widow to contest his Bukit Assek seat

KUCHING: The widow of the late Wong Ho Leng, a multi-term Opposition leader from Sibu, will stand as DAP's Bukit Assek candidate.

Irene Chang (pic) said her decision to contest in the Sibu hot seat was what her husband would have wanted.

"The party asked me to help and I believe I should. I am also willing because I believe Wong would have wanted me to help the party," Chang was quoted as saying in a local daily on Sunday.

Wong died of cancer on June 21, 2014. 

In a surprise move, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who then just sworn in as Chief Minister, directed the state government to contribute RM1mil towards Wong's medical bills.

"I was pleasantly surprised when Adenan agreed to help. When it was first offered, I was considering on not taking it because I felt I did  not want to 'hutang budi' (be indebted).

"I talked to some friends, and they told me that although the approval was from Adenan, the money was from the people. I have been very  touched and thankful to the people. When the CM gave his approval, no one protested," Chang said.

Chang said her decision to stand as a candidate was one way to repay taxpayers. She called on people to support the Opposition for a  stronger check-and-balance.

Wong was diagnosed with brain tumour on Jan 12, 2013. On May 2, 2014, he was in a coma and never recovered from it.

Prior to that, he announced he would not defend the Sibu parliamentary seat in the 2013 General Election. After his death, there was no  by-election for the state Bukit Assek seat as three years had passed since the 2011 Sarawak Election.

Wong first won public office in the 1996 state election, defeating a local strongman. In 2001, Barisan Nasional regained Bukit Assek  only to lose it again to Wong in 2006.