SIBU: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Lanang candidate Wong Ching Yong has proposed that an aquatic centre with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a diving pool costing a total of RM50mil be built in Sibu Jaya.
Wong said the project was one of those which he pledged to fight for from a total of RM1bil if he wins the seat.
“The cost of the project was estimated by a consultant who is involved in constructing the aquatic centre.
“This morning, I called up the Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and he said he would give due consideration and support for the project,” he said during a press conference on Thursday (Nov 10).
Wong pointed out that Sibu Jaya needed the project so that its residents did not have to go to the public swimming pool in Bukit Lima, which is 25km away.
“There are between 38,000 and 40,000 people in Sibu Jaya. So, if we have a swimming pool there, they don’t have to go all the way to the Bukit Lima swimming pool anymore.
“Sibu is also one of the swimming powerhouses in the country with a lot of national swimmers. However, we do not have a diving pool of Olympic standard,” he said.
Hence, he hoped that the proposed centre would be able to produce more Pandelela Rinongs.
Wong is involved in a four-cornered fight for the Lanang seat. The other candidates are incumbent Alice Lau (DAP), Priscilla Lau (Parti Bumi Kenyalang), and independent candidate Datuk Wong Tiing Kiong.
