Latest news with #WongSoonKoh
The Star
7 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Workshop guides youth in protecting personal safety, health and well-being
Wong (fourth from left) flying the Jalur Gemilang at the Jiwa@Komuniti Madani Malaysia Day in Sibu. Sex education is essential in guiding teenagers to respect themselves and others, and to make wise life choices. Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said that while the subject might be considered sensitive, it was particularly important for secondary school students navigating adolescence. 'Remember these three simple points: First, you have rights to your body, so always respect yourself. 'Second, respect others with your words, actions and in relationships. 'Third, think before you act,' he said at the launch of a sex education workshop under 'Jiwa@Komuniti Madani Malaysia Day' at SMK Sungai Merah Multi-purpose Hall in Sibu, Sarawak. The knowledge gained from the workshop, he added, should be applied in protecting personal safety, health and well-being, and shared with others. Wong also called on the younger generation to appreciate three important dates – National Day on Aug 31, Malaysia Day on Sept 16 and Sarawak Day on July 22 – each representing the nation's struggle, sacrifice and unity. The programme also featured the Jalur Gemilang handover for a flag-flying campaign and talks by Sibu Health Department, Sibu district police headquarters and Sibu Prison Department.
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Wong: Increasing DUN seats to 99 ensures fairer representation for all Sarawakians
Wong debates the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025. – Penerangan Photo KUCHING (July 7): The proposed increase in Sarawak constituencies from 82 to 99 will pave the way for fairer voter distribution and more equitable representation for all Sarawakians, said Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (GPS–Bawang Assan). He said such a move will serve as a crucial step towards addressing the current imbalance between urban and rural constituencies. He pointed out that some urban constituencies now have over 30,000 voters, while certain rural areas have fewer than 10,000. 'In effect, this means that one vote in the rural areas carries three times more weight than the vote in urban areas. 'This margin of deviation challenges the very foundation of the principles of electoral fairness. 'One may say that this imbalance dilutes the value of votes and undermines the democratic principles,' he said when debating the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill, 2025 at a special sitting of the DUN here today. Wong argued that the increase in constituencies would lead to smaller, more manageable areas, making it easier for elected representatives to serve their constituents effectively, especially in rural and remote parts of the state. 'More constituencies mean closer representation and more focused delivery of development projects. 'It means that each elected representative can attend more directly to the needs of the people, from infrastructure to education, health, agriculture, and economic empowerment,' he said. He added that reducing the geographical size of each constituency would also improve accessibility and visibility in areas where development has long lagged behind due to logistical challenges. Wong also called for the redelineation exercise to better align electoral boundaries with district and sub-district administrations. Citing his constituency as an example, he said some outlying polling districts fall under different district jurisdictions such as the lower Batang Igan areas which come under Matu District. 'It is hoped that in the forthcoming redelineation exercise, steps are taken to align electoral boundaries with district administration to streamline governance and public delivery.' Wong further stressed the importance of preserving community and ethnic cohesion during the process. 'We must know that Sarawak is home to a rich mosaic of ethnic groups and indigenous communities. 'In the forthcoming redelineation, we must ensure that no community is artificially divided, or its voice diluted. 'Where possible, constituencies should reflect the cultural and communal identity of the people, be they Iban, Bidayuh, orang Ulu, Malays, Melanaus or Chinese,' he said. Wong said the proposal in the increase in the state's constituencies also reflected Sarawak's continuing commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'We in Sarawak have long called for a more equitable representation, not only in our own state assembly but also in Parliament. 'An expanded and more representative DUN is consistent with the spirit of partnership and equality under MA63, and it will also strengthen our voice and our autonomy as one of the founding regions of Malaysia,' he said. He described the proposed increase to 99 seats as 'balanced and practical,' representing a 20 per cent growth that is substantial enough to make a difference, yet not excessive to strain the assembly's administrative structure. 'It is enough to correct the existing imbalance, but not excessive to raise concerns about over-politicisation or administrative strain,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PDP-SUPP row continues, this time over Sibu councillor's post
Sean Wong, the grandson of PDP senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh, was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The row between two Gabungan Parti Sarawak allies has continued with the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) defending the appointment of senior vice-president Wong Soon Koh's grandson as a local councillor in Sibu. Bawang Assan PDP chief Wong Hua said it was the party's right to nominate Sean Wong as a Sibu municipal councillor, fending off criticism from a Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) leader. Wong Hua said SUPP should mind its own business instead of concerning itself with the affairs of other parties, the Borneo Post reported. 'If you are questioning why Sean was recommended by our party, then all I can say is thank you very much for your concern. When SUPP recommended its councillors, PDP never commented on the appointments,' he said. He was responding to Dudong SUPP Youth chief Yiing Sy Huat, who is also a Sibu councillor, who questioned Sean's appointment to the post. Sean is the grandson of Bawang Assan assemblyman Soon Koh, the former state finance minister II who has had an ongoing conflict with SUPP since he was sacked from the party in 2014. Not long ago, Soon Koh was the Parti Sarawak Bersatu president as well as the opposition leader. However, the party was dissolved when he and other members joined PDP en bloc. Sean was appointed a Sibu municipal councillor in April. Wong Hua urged Yiing to focus on his job as a councillor instead of politicking, saying their energy should be spent on serving the public and developing the local community instead of meaningless arguments and personal attacks.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
S'wak redelineation talks with Putrajaya ongoing, state assembly told
filepic of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex in Kuching in sharon's e-mail KUCHING: Discussions on a constituency redelineation exercise for Sarawak are ongoing with the Federal Government, says a deputy minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department. Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said no final decision had been made on the redelineation exercise or the number of additional seats for Sarawak. "The Sarawak government has consistently pursued the demand to restore the one-third representation each for Sarawak and Sabah in the Dewan Rakyat as envisaged under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report 1962," she said in a written reply in the state assembly on Friday (May 23). Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (GPS-Bawang Assan) had asked when the redelineation exercise would be completed and how many additional state and parliamentary seats would be created. "In respect to the demand for additional seats for Parliament and the state assembly, the discussion is ongoing and the number has yet to be finalised. "The discussions on strengthening Sarawak's representation in the Dewan Rakyat remain active under the framework of MA63," Sharifah Hasidah said, adding that the state government would continue to pursue the matter.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
No final decision on re-delineation of Sarawak electoral boundaries
KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-Federal Relations, Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, today said no final decision has been made yet on the proposed re-delineation exercises of electoral boundaries in Sarawak. She said discussions between the state government and the federal government were ongoing. "In respect to the demand for additional seats for parliamentary and state constituencies, the discussion is still ongoing and the exact number of additional seats has yet to be finalised," she said when replying to Bawang Assan State Assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh during a question-and-answer session in the State Assembly. Sharidah Hasidah said that the discussions in relation to strengthening Sarawak's representation in the Dewan Rakyat remain active under the framework of MA63, and the Sarawak government would continue to pursue the matter. She said the Sarawak government had consistently pursued the demand to restore the one-third representation for Sarawak and Sabah in the Dewan Rakyat, as originally envisaged under the MA63 and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report 1962. Wong had wanted to know when the constituency re-delineation exercises would be completed and how many additional parliamentary and state seats would be provided.
