SIBU: This town has a great potential to grow and to be developed as there are so many things that it can offer, pointed out Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee.
“But we have to come together to explore all these aspects. I believe everybody, not just the authority, the leaders, and the government, all the people of Sibu could come together, we are able to transform Sibu into a place where all of us had envisioned before.
“Because building a town requires concerted effort, we must come together to build this town together. I envisioned Sibu as a place where opportunity flourish, and Sibu to be elevated into a city status, I strongly believe with the strategic plans that we have and with the cooperation from everyone we do not have to wait for a very long time anymore to have this dream come true,” he said at the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC)’s New Year Countdown 2025 held at the town square here last Tuesday.
The Pelawan assemblyman said Sibu would be developed into not just any other city, but a sustainable city that is green, friendly and safe.
“That is also the reason a child council had been set up,” he said, adding that the world is developing rapidly because of technology, and facing many modern issues that are related to technology such as addiction to mobile phones and cyber bullying that would create danger and problems in the society.
He said a child’s right has already extended beyond education, nutrition and protection and has also included to speak up and to be heard.
“We have to understand the worldview of our young people. Time has changed and the society has changed. There are many new challenges ahead. To tackle all these challenges, we have to understand our society better.
‘I also envision that a developed Sibu is not just physical development where we developed all the facilities and infrastructures, or to have high buildings, or a lot of businesses, but also development in the society as well.
“What do I mean by this, is that there should be a change of mindset in the society. Our old ways of thinking cannot bring us forward. We must have an open mind to accept new challenges and new things and maybe new policies that is aim to bring Sibu to a greater height,” he said.
Looking back throughout the year 2024, he stressed that there is a need to look forward and be ready to take up new challenges in a coming year with hope.
Believing that 2025 will be an exciting and challenging year, he asserted that it is the challenge that should embrace to move forward with much anticipation to do better and to do the best.
The year 2024 has been good and sometimes not so good but whatever it is, he emphasised that it should be taken as part of the learning curve to do better.
SMC, he said, has many achievements for the past year, including a record for installing over 3,000 LED street lighting.
“We had another year of successful events, such as Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF), bike week, and many other International events organised by various organisations. Our new market at Sungai Merah has just been completed recently. The new concept has changed the whole business model for that place. It is something like this that we should celebrate and be proud of.
“We are not doing this to show to people that we can do it, that we in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has the capability to help the people. We want Sibu to transform into a place where people especially young people have the opportunity to grow, to showcase their talents, and to start their own businesses.
“Sibu has a lot more to offer but we need to provide that kind of opportunity for the young people. We need our young people to stay in Sibu. However, we do not want these young people to feel confined in this small town, as if there’s not much room for them to grow and to expand. We want Sibu to be a place for them where they can be themselves and to explore what they can do for themselves and for the town itself,” Tiang added.
Among those present were SMC chairman, Clarence Ting Ing Horth; the event organising chairperson, Cr Michelle Law Wan Ling and other distinguished guests.
