KUCHING: Sarikei, located about an hour-drive from Sibu, is famous for its sweet and juicy pineapple – hence, it is also known as ‘pineapple town’ among the locals and visitors.
It is the fruit basket of Sarawak and also famous for its fresh vegetables, which are supplied to the surrounding areas and towns.
Sarikei is also one of the main pepper producers in Sarawak; the local pepper farmers can definitely take the pride that Sarawak ranks among the world’s five leading producers of pepper.
Blessed with fertile soil and plenty of land available for large-scale and commercial cultivation, the Sarawak government aims to transform and develop Sarikei as the state’s food basket by 2030.
The Sungai Baji Agro Park, which is located 5km from Sarikei town, will feature greenhouses, food terminals, incubators and a training facility.
It is currently under construction and set to be the first agro park in Sarawak once completed. The 127-hectare land has the potential to become a major food production hub in the region and an agro-tourism destination.
Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said the agro park project is expected to boost the social and economic development in Sarikei as well as benefiting the people living in the surrounding areas.
He wants to increase the incomes of the farmers in his hometown, especially those from the low income families.
The businessman in his 50s knew life could be very tough and challenging for those living in poverty; as he was also born into a poor family. Thus, education and healthcare have been something that are close to his heart.
He has been distributing school bags, uniforms for children in his constituency as well as allocating funds and even personal donations for schools, wheelchairs and medical beds for elderly and needy families, among others.
He added that there is also a need to continue to improve and develop the various infrastructures and facilities there as well as to prioritise the needs and aspirations of the low income families and hawkers – in both urban and rural areas, including those living in the longhouses.
Huang, the two-term assemblyman is contesting in Sarikei, under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket. This is the second time he contested in the parliamentary seat; which is made up of Repok and Meradong – both state seats currently held by GPS.
“I am not a perfect assemblyman; scoring 100 marks in everything I do; but I am sure that I am a qualified (state) representative and has delivered my duties,” he said during a ceramah recently and thanked the voters in Repok for supporting him during the state elections.
He appealed to the voters to give him the next five years to fight for Sarikei as a member of parliament (MP), to witness “what he can do for the constituency”.
Apart from ceramah in the town areas at night, Huang spent most of his day time visiting and campaigning in the longhouses areas.
“So far the response is good and encouraging,” he said when contacted.
Huang’s opponent is from DAP, a 32-year-old politician; Roderick Wong Siew Lead, who is also the son of Sarikei incumbent Wong Ling Biu.
Sarikei is seeing a straight fight between Huang and Roderick Wong in the 15th general election (GE15).
Roderick, a former bank officer, has released his eight-point-manifesto for the seat, which was held by his father for two terms, since 2013.
Among the focuses on his manifesto included better medical facilities, internet coverage, roads, transformation of the agriculture sector, to attract and retain local talents, reduce air fares (travelling between Malaya and Sarawak) as well as financial aids for single-parent families and university and college students.
The graduate from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), has been in the banking industry for over six years, before he decided to become a full time politician in March last year.
He became his father’s special assistant and decided to contest in the GE15 after his father decided to step down.
He joined DAP in 2014 and is presently the Sarikei Branch secretary.
In the GE14, Wong Ling Biu garnered 16,372 votes and won Sarikei with a majority of 2,570 votes, defeating Huang (13,757) and Wong Chin King (392 votes.
