By Linda Khoo
SIBU, April 13 (Bernama) -- Children and adults with special needs here are most fortunate because they have the Agape Centre to care for their needs.
The centre, housing five organisations - Children with Special Need, Lau King Howe Memorial Children Clinic, Methodist Care Centre, Sibu Autistic Association, Special Olympics Sibu - in Jalan Alan here, began its operations in 2006.
The Agape Centre was set up largely due to the generosity of one of the town's most illustrious philanthropist, Datuk Tiong Thai King, or Ah Thai to his friends.
Tiong, 66, is the youngest brother of Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King, one of the country's business tycoons known for his interests in media, property and timber.
It was reported that the younger Tiong, who is also the executive director of Rimbunan Hijau (RH) Group, contributed considerably to the construction of Agape Centre but he declined to disclose how much.
He has also declined to have the centre named after him, preferring the name Agape Centre, as a gift to the disadvantaged.
Tiong is the four-term Member of Parliament for Lanang since 1995 and well-liked especially by his rural voters for his generosity in sponsoring land, school sports and his regular visits to present them with minor rural projects.
The soft-spoken and very approachable Tiong is also Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Chairman and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) vice president.
But Tiong can be stern when the occasion demands it, said local political observer, Edward Wong.
On Saturday, Tiong takes on another fight, he is the party's candidate to defend the Dudong seat, replacing four-term incumbent and Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck.
Dudong is one of the two state seats under the Lanang constituency, the other being Bukit Assek which was won by state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng in 2006.
Tiong, from the Foochow clan, may face the wrath from Dr Soon's supporters who had expected the incumbent, a Hokkien, to be retained for the contest.
"I will do my best. My first task if elected as assemblyman is to request for more allocation to improve the basic amenities here and provide a better quality of life for the people," he told Bernama
Top on his priority list is to ensure that all the 150 longhouses and kampungs in Dudong constituency would be supplied with electricity and clean water.
"At present, there are only a few longhouses left without electricity and clean water supply. Road upgrading is also part of my plan to provide better connectivity in the constituency," he said.
The veteran politician said he would never underestimate his rival, lawyer Yap Hoi Liong, 39, although the latter is a first-timer.
"I'm confident that the voters here are mature in making a wise choice this coming Saturday to determine the Chinese community's political future. They must have faith in BN based on its excellent track record in Dudong.
"BN's aspiration is to serve the people based on the 1Malaysia spirit.
The opposition are only creating lies. So, don't be fooled by their lip service," he said.
Dudong is a constituency of 26,251 voters.
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