“An MP from SUPP is beholden to their masters in Barisan Nasional (BN), especially Umno and PBB. When it comes to voting in Parliament, he becomes a mere rubber stamp for BN. The interest of Sibu folk will be furthest from his mind when that happens,” the DAP lawmaker said.
“SUPP is just a ‘small boy’ within the BN coalition. Do you think any one of their elected representatives have the guts to go against what their ‘big brothers’ decide?”
As for development in Sibu, Ling said Andrew’s father, Wong Soon Koh, was a state minister and it was also his responsibility to look after the needs of Sibu and its populace as his ministerial portfolio dictates.
“On top of that, SUPP has been in control of the local authorities in Sarawak, including Sibu, for decades. It is the duty of the councils to resolve local issues and problems and provide the best services for all, including supporters of the opposition.”
Ling also noted that SUPP had promised Sibu would be granted city status in 2005.
“This is 2018, and Sibu is still not a city 13 years later,” he said.
When asked what his most significant achievement had been over the past five years, Ling pointed to the case where more than 70 people were cheated of over RM1 million in an insurance scam.
He had fought for the victims and managed to recover a bulk of the losses for them.
Ling is involved in a four-cornered contest with Wong and two others from the Peace Party and the State Reform Party (STAR).
Ling won the seat in 2013 with a 2,841-vote majority in a three-way fight with BN’s Vincent Lau and independent candidate Narawi Haron.
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