Tiong King Sing

Dato Sri Tiong King Sing (simplified Chinese: 张庆信; traditional Chinese: 張慶信; pinyin: Zhāng Qìngxìn; Bàng-uâ-cê: Diŏng Kéng-séng; born 3 September 1961) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to China in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin since April 2020 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bintulu since November 1999. He served as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak from January 2014 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018. [1][2][3][4] He is a member and President of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition which is aligned with the ruling PN coalition and formerly the BN coalition. In accordance with its expansion to West Malaysia in 2017, the party was rebranded with its new name and logo from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), a former component party of the BN coalition. [5] Following the collapse of the BN administration after the 2018 general election and in the aftermath, a meeting between all Sarawak-based BN component parties was held on 12 June 2018, PDP decided to leave the coalition with the other three parties to form a new Sarawak-based political coalition in the meeting, namely the GPS coalition. [6]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tiong (張).
Yang Berhormat Dato Sri

Tiong King Sing

PJN PNBS SSAP SSSA DPMK MP
张庆信
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister
to China
Assumed office
20 April 2020
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterMuhyiddin Yassin
Preceded byTan Kok Wai
ConstituencyBintulu
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister
to East Asia
In office
3 January 2014 – 10 May 2018
MonarchAbdul Halim
(2014–2016)
Muhammad V
(2016–2018)
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byRichard Riot Jaem
ConstituencyBintulu
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Bintulu
Assumed office
29 November 1999
Preceded byChiew Chiu Sing (DAP)
Majority1,400 (1999)
11,267 (2004)
14,966 (2008)
7,433 (2013)
7,022 (2018)
Personal details
Born
Tiong King Sing

(1961-09-03) 3 September 1961
Sibu, Crown Colony of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia)
Political partySarawak National Party (SNAP)
(–2002)
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)
(2002–2017)
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)
(2017–present)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
(–2018)
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)
(2018–present)
Perikatan Nasional (PN) (allied)
(2020–present)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionBusinessman
Websitep216bintulu.com
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese張慶信
Simplified Chinese张庆信
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Qìngxìn
Fuzhou BUCDiŏng Kéng-séng

Political career

Tiong was originally a member of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) but was dismissed in 2002 for what the party cited as disciplinary reasons.[7] He subsequently joined the SPDP.[8]

At the 2008 general election, he successfully defended his seat receiving 73% of the vote.[9]

Tiong was re-elected to Parliament again in 2013 general election, and the following year became the President of the SPDP, replacing William Mawan Ikom, who had resigned from the party.

In 2018 general election, Tiong retained his seat in Bintulu with a majority of 7,022.

Issues raised

Gangsterism in Sarawak

In 2007 he became involved in a dispute with police administration alleging that criminal gangs were acting with impunity throughout Sarawak but that his concerns were not being addressed by police.[10][11] His outspokenness was reported to have triggered a large police operation against criminal organisations in the State.[12] Tiong subsequently received mail threats, including a parcel of shotgun cartridges, at his constituency office.[13][14]

Pan Borneo Highway

In 2013, Tiong urged the repair of Pan-Borneo Highway because poor road conditions had cause fatal road traffic accidents on the highway.[15] In 2016, he suggests that the highway project should include up-gradation of coastal road from Bintulu to Miri and double carriageway for easier travel on the road.[16] In 2017, Tiong criticised that Pan Borneo Highway up-gradation project had bypassed Bintulu, thus not benefitting the local people of Bintulu.[17] In 2018, Tiong criticised the highway contractors for lack of safety warning signs, potholes and damage to public utilities.[18]

In June 2019, complained again that the Pan Borneo Highway road conditions did not improve despite the road inspections done by Democratic Action Party (DAP), which at that time was part of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.[19] In December 2019, Tiong criticises works minister Baru Bian for slow response to Pan Borneo Highway issues.[20] He also alleged that Work Package Contractors (WPCs) were paid despite not completing works up to standard. However, the Work Ministry said that the federal government had appointed Lebuhraya Borneo Utara (LBU) to oversee the works done by WPCs. Payments to the WPCs will be done by LBU also. Meanwhile, the federal government had issued a termination letter on 20 September 2019 to LBU which would take effect on 20 February 2020.[21]

COVID-19 pandemic

On 21 June 2020, as a result from Tiong's effort in raising funds from private sector and individuals, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) lab was set up in Bintulu Hospital to conduct tests for COVID-19 without the need to send the samples to Sibu or Kuching for processing.[22] In July 2020, he also complained the slow response of Malaysian Ministry of Health in supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to Sarawak during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He also denounced the use of rapid RTK antigen tests for COVID-19 due to high false negatives rates amongst the patients screened. However, according to Malaysian Institute of Medical Research, the antigen RTK's sensitivity level stood at 90 per cent, while specificity remains at 100 per cent.[23]

Controversies

Kong-Kali-Kong pet phrase
See also: empty vessels make the most sound (tong kosong nyaring bunyinya, air beriak tanda tak dalam, berkocak tanda tak penuh)

In 2015, Tiong King Sing introduced a pet phrase into Parliament when he described Opposition lawmakers as "Kong-Kali-Kong" MPs. Tiong made the remark after several opposition MPs lashed out at Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers, in particular Azalina Othman Said (Umno-Pengerang) for tabling a motion to suspend Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Gelang Patah). Among the opposition lawmakers who voiced their disagreement with the tabling of the motion were Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) and Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara). In an attempt to silence them, Tiong used the term "Kong-Kali-Kong" on them, which he explained as "empty vessels" or "people with no insight on any matter whatsoever." This remark was followed by roars of laughter from other MPs who practically drowned out Gobind, who asked sarcastically, "What does that mean? Is that Bahasa Malaysia?" The pandemonium was triggered when Lim was suspended from Parliament for six months for refusing to apologise or retract his allegation that Pandikar Amin Mulia had abused his position as Dewan Rakyat Speaker on the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) investigations on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) when he ordered that it be temporarily suspended. Speaking up in defence of Pandikar, Tiong said the Speaker had to be firm in allowing the motion to be tabled by Azalina for voting. "Remember, we have to respect the Speaker," Tiong said, adding that he believed opposition MPs would never admit their faults and would instead continue to block the issue from being debated.[24][25]

"Afraid to die" remark against director-general of health

On 11 November 2020, Tiong criticised director-general (DG) of health, Dr Noor Hisham that he did not visit Bintulu during the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged that the DG is "afraid to die".[26] However Noor Hisham defended himself that he had visited Sabah in August 2020 for preparation works before Sabah state election. He also sent his deputies to Sabah in November during Sabah COVID-19 pandemic. He also said that death does not discriminate anyone.[27] Five days later, Tiong apologised for his remark.[26]

Election results
Parliament of Malaysia: Bintulu, Sarawak[28]
Year Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct
1999 Tiong King Sing (SNAP) 15,681 52% Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) 14,281 47%
2004 Tiong King Sing (SPDP) 20,225 63%
Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) 8,958 28%
Lau Hieng Kii (SNAP) 2,583 8%
2008 Tiong King Sing (SPDP) 23,628 72% Lim Su Kien (DAP) 8,662 27%
2013 Tiong King Sing (SPDP) 26,458 58% John Brian Anthony (DAP) 19,025 42%
2018 Tiong King Sing (PDP) 27,076 57%
Chiew Chan Yew (DAP) 20,054 42%
Chieng Lea Phing (STAR) 328 1%

Honours

See also

References
  1. "Tiong appointed special envoy to Far East". The Malay Mail. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. Justin Ong (7 July 2018). "Report: Putrajaya axing special envoys, advisers". The Star. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. "PMO: Tiong King Sing appointed as PM's minister-level special envoy to China". Malay Mail. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. Koya, Zakiah (20 April 2020). "PDP chief Tiong is now PM's special envoy to China". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. "PDP plans to expand to Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Klang Valley". Borneo Post. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. Sharon Ling; Geryl Ogilvy (12 June 2018). "Sarawak BN parties pull out of coalition to form independent state-based pact". The Star. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  7. "Nine who walked out did not want to participate in sacking". New Straits Times. 22 April 2002.
  8. "SPDP to object to SNAP rejoining BN". New Straits Times. 18 November 2003.
  9. Hamdan Ismail (10 March 2008). "BN Does Well in Northern Sarawak". Berita Wilayah Sarawak. Bernama. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  10. D'Cruz, Fay Angela (1 April 2007). "MP: Come and see the gangsters running riot". New Straits Times.
  11. "Sarawak top cop breaks his silence on gangsters". New Straits Times. 3 April 2007.
  12. "Police closing in on gangsters". New Straits Times. 8 June 2007.
  13. "Warning to IGP and Bintulu MP". New Straits Times. 31 July 2007.
  14. "Shotgun cartridges in mail for Bintulu MP, IGP". The Star. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  15. Then, Stephen (13 September 2013). "Repair Pan Borneo Highway now, says Bintulu MP following latest fatal accident". The Star. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  16. "There must be balanced devt for Bintulu to be industrial city by 2020". Borneo Post Adventure Team. The Borneo Post. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  17. "The view from across river". Borneo Post Adventure Team. The Borneo Post. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  18. "Tiong slams Pan Borneo contractors". Yussop Yunus. The Borneo Post. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  19. Edward, Churchill (11 June 2019). "No improvement to Pan Borneo Highway despite DAP's inspection visit – Tiong". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  20. Aubrey, Samuel (19 December 2019). "Tiong criticises Baru for 'slow' response to Pan Borneo Highway issues". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  21. "Retract allegations, Works Ministry tells Tiong". The Borneo Post. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  22. "PCR lab enables Bintulu Hospital to test for COVID-19". The Borneo Post. 21 June 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  23. "Bintulu MP Denounces Antigen Rapid Tests, Bemoans Late Sarawak PPE Supply". Code Blue. 21 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  24. "Opposition made up of 'Kong-Kali-Kong' MPs, says BN man | Free Malaysia Today".
  25. ""Kong Kali Kong" Di Parlimen – YouTube".
  26. Dzulkifly, Danial. "Five days on, Bintulu MP apologises for 'afraid to die' remarks against Health D-G | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  27. Noorshahrizam, Shahrin Aizat (11 November 2020). "Death comes for everyone, Dr Noor Hisham says after Bintulu MP's jibe". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  28. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
  29. "641 terima anugerah sempena Hari Keputeraan" (in Malay). Utusan Melayu. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  30. "CM's wife leads list of TYT award recipients". Othman Ishak. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
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