SIBU: Winning the Bawang Assan state constituency six times in a row was a piece of cake for veteran politician Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.
He won the seat five times when he was with the government and once as an Opposition candidate in the 2021 State Election.
As contesting in the 15th General Election is a different kettle of fish, Wong, 80, is leaving to the 100,000 over voters to decide his fate.
"It's up to the people to decide. I think people are wise enough to choose who they want to represent them (in the parliament).
"I'm not at a disadvantage even though I am in the Opposition. I believe in this Parliamentary election, I could also win," he told the press at a conference on Monday (Nov 7).
Wong was locked in a three-cornered fight for the Sibu seat in the election.
The other two are incumbent Oscar Ling (Pakatan Harapan) and Clarence Ting Ing Horh (Gabungan Parti Sarawak).
He has been Bawang Assan assemblyman since September 1991. He had served as the State Finance Minister II from 2004 and State International Trade and E-Commerce Minister from May 2017 until his resignation in July 2019, Local Government and Community Development from September 2011 to May 2016 and Environment and Public Health Minister from 2008 to September 2011.
He is also Parti Sarawak Bersatu's (PSB) president.
During his ceramah on Sunday night (Nov 6), he was asked why at his age he had not retired from politics.
"I am contesting in this election as I want to fight to restore the state's rights under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963)," he said.
Touching on his party manifesto for GE15 at the press conference, Wong said they wanted to give full scholarships for Sarawakian students studying not only in universities in the state but also in West Malaysia.
"For overseas universities, we will give half a scholarship. Is it not better if PSB is given the choice by the people?" he asked.
Wong also called on the State Government to give full scholarships instead of half to University of Technology Sarawak as "Yayasan Sarawak is very cash-rich."
