Soon Koh blasts SUPP branches over their "senseless remarks" targetting him on the collapse of shophouses

SIBU, Feb 21 2026: Former state minister Wong Soon Koh has blasted Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) branches for asking him to account for the recent collapse of a row of eight shophouses in Sibu.

Wong Soo Koh: The approval for the building plan of the shophouses was granted by SPA at the time was based on statutory technical assessments and reports. 

He described the  remarks by six branches of SUPP targetting him as senseless. 

 He said he should not be blamed for the collapse of the shophouses in Jalan Pahlawan  in the early hours of Feb 13.

He said it was the State Planning Authority (SPA) which gave the approval for any building development in the state.

He said  any building must first obtain approval from SPA, a statutory body vested with significant powers over land use and urban planning decisions.

“Upon completion, the developer is responsible for maintenance for six months before the property is formally handed over to the municipal council,” he said in response to a “senseless remarks” by six branches of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) as published in a local Chinese newspaper.

He said he believes the approval granted by SPA at the time was based on statutory technical assessments and reports.

“If Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian believes there were irregularities, he has full access to all records,” Wong, who was the Minister of Housing and Local Government September 2011 to May 2016, said.

 “Why not Dr Sim initiate an internal investigation into SPA instead of allowing Sibu six SUPP branch members to make reckless public accusations?” he asked, referring to Dr Sim as the current Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister.

Wong, who is also Bawang Assan State Legislative Member (SLM), said during his tenure as Minister of Housing and Local Government from 2011 to 2016, no similar collapse occurred at the Pahlawan Road shoplots.

He  noted that building safety is subject to dynamic geological changes and surrounding developments, and that the fragile soil condition along Pahlawan Road has long been public knowledge.

“If every incident is conveniently blamed on a former minister, does that not render the current minister irrelevant and unfit for office?

“The ministry responsible for housing and local government bears constitutional and administrative responsibility for public infrastructure failures.

“Naming the current minister is a normal exercise of democratic accountability,” he said, pointing out  that to drag in a former minister who has long left office as a scapegoat defies logic.

He urged parties to return to rational discourse and handle the matter based on institutional procedures and the rule of law, rather than emotional rhetoric.

He said public affairs must not become election tools, that institutions must be respected and laws must be upheld.

The row of eight shophouses collapsed in the early hours of Feb 13.

However, there were no casualties reported.