SIBU: Bawang Assan assemblyman, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, has reaffirmed his commitment to staying close to the grassroots after leading a community outreach visit to Paradom near here, where he met residents, visited sick and mobility-impaired individuals and assessed issues affecting the local community on Thursday (Aug 20).
The outreach, conducted as part of his ongoing grassroots engagement, saw Wong and his service team visit homes and Iban longhouses despite the hot weather.
He was accompanied by Kapitan Hii Chin Yu, Kapitan Ling Nai Woo, Paradom Service Committee chairman Ting Hung Hua and several local residents.
During the visit, Wong personally visited several residents who were ill or facing mobility difficulties, taking time to enquire about their health and treatment progress while offering encouragement and moral support.
The service team also distributed food and essential supplies to families facing financial difficulties, providing some immediate relief from their household expenses.
Beyond welfare assistance, the visit also served as an opportunity for Wong and his team to inspect local infrastructure and hear directly from residents about problems affecting their daily lives.
Wong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party’s (PDP) senior vice-president, said such direct engagement was important because the real challenges faced by residents could not always be fully understood from a distance.
Reflecting on the visit, he said he was deeply touched by the warmth extended by the Paradom community, particularly the residents’ hospitality and willingness to come together to support one another.
Quoting the Chinese saying, “The people are the foundation of the nation; when the foundation is strong, the nation is peaceful,” Wong stressed that the wellbeing of the people remained fundamental to sustainable community development.
He said meaningful service required leaders to go to the grassroots, listen to residents and understand their needs first-hand before determining how assistance could best be provided.
“Only by going deep into the grassroots and paying close attention to the needs of the community can we build a foundation for long-term stability and prosperity,” he said.
Wong also cited another Chinese saying – “One may travel fast alone, but together we can travel far” – to describe the importance of unity and cooperation within the community.
He noted that despite the scorching weather, residents had warmly welcomed the visiting team and prepared local food, drinks and fruits for them, reflecting the strong neighbourly ties and spirit of mutual assistance in Paradom.
According to Wong, such community solidarity was among the most valuable strengths of a society, particularly when residents, community leaders and service teams worked together to address local needs.
He expressed appreciation to the community leaders and residents who accompanied and assisted throughout the outreach programme.
Wong pledged to continue upholding the spirit of ‘Unity in Service and Care for the Grassroots’, maintaining close contact with residents, listening to their concerns and working together with the community to build a better and more prosperous Bawang Assan.
