Julau MP: Kalong Ningkan, Tawi Sli should be accorded the respect and recognition they deserve

KUCHING, June 10 2026: Julau Member of Parliament Larry Sng has asked that past leaders who helped shape the state be accorded the respect and recognition they deserve, not just the later leaders.

 

Caption: Julau MP Larry Sng says that much recognition is accorded to the contribution of later chief ministers

He said as Sarawak continues to mature as a confident and self-governing region, it is important that “we also take time to reflect on how we honour the leaders who built the foundations of our state.”

“Today, much recognition is rightly accorded to the contributions of our later chief ministers,” Sng, who is also Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, said in his Facebook post.

“However, we should also ask whether sufficient recognition has been given to Sarawak’s earliest chief ministers, particularly the late Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Penghulu Tawi Sli, who led Sarawak during some of the most important years in our history.

“It is also worth noting that while later chief ministers have been accorded the state’s highest honour, the Satria Bintang Sarawak (Pehin Sri), our earliest chief ministers did not receive equivalent recognition.

“This observation is not intended to diminish the achievements of any subsequent leader,” he said, adding that rather, it raises a broader question of historical balance and fairness in how “we remember those who served Sarawak.”

He said the Dayaks remain the largest ethnic community in Sarawak and have contributed immensely to the state’s development.

He said recognising the sacrifices and achievements of the early Dayak chief ministers is therefore not merely a matter of ethnic representation.

“It is about ensuring that the story of Sarawak is told in full, and that all those who helped shape our state are accorded the respect and recognition they deserve.

“History should not be viewed through the lens of who came later or who held power longer. Instead, we should honour every generation of leaders according to their contribution.

“In doing so, we strengthen our shared Sarawakian identity and ensure that no chapter of our history is forgotten,” Sng said.

Woman scammed of RM3,000 after responding to advertisement posted on Facebook

KUCHING, June 10 2026: Sarawak Consumers’ Association (PPS)  has reminded members of the public to be wary with advertisements that offer “free inspection” service on Facebook and other social media platforms.

Caption: PPS president Dr Wynson Ong Teck Ping hearing the complaint from the woman 

Its president Dr Wynson Ong Teck Ping said PPS has received a complaint from a woman involving a leak repair service advertised on Facebook with a “Free Inspection” offer.

“A woman claimed to have paid RM3,000 for the repair work suggested by two men who came to her house.

 “However, the problem encountered failed to be resolved and the individual who carried out the work could no longer be contacted,” he said.

According to the woman, she contacted a Facebook advertisement offering a free inspection for a leak problem under the kitchen sink.

He added two foreign men from China on May 26, 2026 at approximately 9.30am, came to her house to carry out an inspection.

“The complainant stated that she had asked whether the problem was caused by a leak or a blocked drain.

“However, without a thorough inspection or the use of appropriate detection equipment, the two men immediately concluded that the problem was a leak and suggested repair work using a special drilling and injection method,” Dr Ong said.

He said the woman repeatedly asked for an explanation of the amount of material used and the basis for calculating the cost, but the two men failed to provide a satisfactory explanation and never submitted a written quotation before the work was carried out.

He said since the work had been completed and the woman did not have the technical knowledge to determine whether the charge was reasonable or not, she was in a confused and stressed state.

“In a situation of unclear information and believing the assurance that the problem had been successfully resolved, the complainant finally agreed to pay RM3,000 after several negotiations.

“The complainant explained that the payment was made in a situation where she did not have sufficient information to assess whether the charges were reasonable or not.

“It is understood that the RM3,000 payment was transferred to a personal bank account belonging to a local individual and not to a clear or registered company account,” Dr Ong said.

Dr Ong also said similar complaints, posted on Facebook and other social media platforms, have been reported in Malaya.

He said it also found out that many Facebook accounts and advertising pages promoting such services were newly created accounts, had limited operating records and did not display company information, business address or clear background of the owner.

“Among the services that are often promoted include free leak inspection; waterproofing repair; toilet leak; kitchen leak; and floor and tile repair.

“Most advertisements use the approach of offering a free inspection before suggesting expensive repair work,” Dr Ong said.