Friday February 22, 2013
SUPP chief urges PM to allow Shanghai varsity to set up branch
KUCHING: Despite having a sore throat, SUPP president Datuk Seri Peter Chin managed to summon up enough gusto to address the 10,000-strong crowd at a “Lou Yee Sang” tossing event officiated by the Prime Minister in MJC here last night.
Appearing on stage together with the party’s secretary-general Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Chin’s raspy voice was a far cry from his usual form, but the veteran leader made an effort to deliver his speech in the presence of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“My voice is not important. What is important is that the Prime Minister is here with us tonight to join us in this momentous occasion,” said Chin.
Dr Sim took over midway due to Chin’s ailing voice and called the evening “significant”, as it was the first time in the country a 10,000-strong crowd was in unison to partake in a “Lou Yee Sang” tossing event in an attempt to create a new feat in the Malaysia Book of Records.
“The upcoming general election will be an event even more significant for the Chinese in Sarawak, Kuching in particular.
“The Chinese believes in a good government, in righteousness, fairness and a chance to see their sons and daughters able to do better in the future.
“SUPP supports this ethos and it is our wish to play a significant role to transform our country as to make it a reality for the community,” said Dr Sim. Chin found it in him to wind up the speech by requesting the Prime Minister to consider upgrading the 10th to 15th Mile Kuching-Serian road to a dual carriageway, as the current road bottlenecks, causing massive traffic jams.
“Another request would be for the Prime Minister to consider letting the Jiao Tong University of Shanghai establish a branch here in Kuching, as it ranks as the fourth best university in all of China and would contribute greatly to education here in the state.
“Also, there is a dire need to set up more government schools in Kuching, and we at SUPP would like it if a license was approved to set up a new SJKC school here,” added Chin.