BINTULU: Disheartened to see constituents – who had originally been preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year with their families – facing hardship and displacement due to floods, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (pic) says he and his team are doing their utmost in disaster relief and rebuilding efforts. He said he and his team were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the flood that hit Bintulu and his Dudong state constituency.
“The scale of this flood is huge, affecting a vast area and a large number of victims.
“Throughout this process, we find ourselves overwhelmed, exhausted and even disoriented at times,” he said on his Facebook yesterday, Bernama reported.
He also apologised to the public for not being able to personally respond to the many Chinese New Year greetings and messages of concern during the period.
The people’s blessings, he said, gave him the strength to persevere and their encouragement gave him the confidence to overcome the challenges.
“I firmly believe that together, we can overcome this hardship and rebuild hope.
“As we usher in the Chinese New Year, I also wish everyone good health, peace and prosperity. May we be blessed with favourable weather and harmony,” said Tiong, who is also the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.
He skipped the celebration on the first day of Chinese New and went to the ground to join the relevant authorities in disaster relief operations.
Pictures of Tiong clad only in a round-neck T-shirt and shorts during the operation were widely circulated on social media.
Yet to some people, this was just a show by Tiong, who is the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president, to gain popularity.
This was, however, quickly debunked by many who said Tiong is well known for his close attachment to his constituents.
Getting wet in the flood water, which he had done many times, was just the tip of an iceberg, they said.
“You’re the best Member of Parliament that I know and our Bintulu right now has Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. May God bless you always ... Aamiin,” wrote Saharudeen Taha.
“A truly caring gentleman. Bintulu folks are blessed to have DS Tiong,” wrote Royston Sim.
According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, as of 8am yesterday, the number of evacuees in the Bintulu Division (covering Bintulu, Tatau and Sebauh districts) stood at 5,184.
