Kuching City South Mayor dies

A sad Taib says given his sound track record, Chong could have brought Kuching city to new heights

GREAT LOSS: Chua (centre) with children (from right) Crystal and Michelle and other family members standing by the casket.

KUCHING: Kuching City South Council Mayor Chong Ted Tsiung passed away at the Kuching Specialist Hospital here at around 4.30am yesterday after battling cancer for about a month.

He was 51 years old.

Chong leaves behind his wife Mary Frances Chua, and three daughters between the ages of 14 and 21.

According to his family members, he was suffering from pancreas cancer.

He was appointed as the third mayor of the city council on Sept 25, 2006.

He is the first non-politician to be appointed to the post since the elevation of Kuching to city status exactly 19 years ago on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was among the last few people who had the opportunity to speak to Chong before he passed away.

Taib had visited Chong on Thursday afternoon.

Relating his visit to reporters yesterday, Taib said: “I just spoke to him yesterday (Thursday). He seemed to be well and I was happy to see him.”

“I did not expect him to pass away but the doctors did say that the cancer was at a very serious stage,” he said.

Taib was saddened by Chong’s demise as he believed that the later had what it took to bring the city to new heights given his sound track record while serving in the civil service.

“I always had high hopes for Chong to work for the people of Kuching when I appointed him as the mayor. He was a humble and very open-minded man. I feel sad that he is no longer with us,” said Taib, extending his condolences to Chong’s family.

Although he did not disclose what he had spoken to Chong about, it is learnt at a Kuching City South Council (MBKS) press conference yesterday evening that Chong had ‘apologised’ to Taib.

Acting Mayor Mohd Amin Hassan revealed: “When the Chief Minister visited him in the hospital, he (Chong) apologised for not being able to do much during his time. That shows that he is a very humble and dedicated man.”

Chong’s funeral service will be at St Faith’s Church tomorrow at 2pm.

The cortege will then go to the MBKS building boulevard where a memorial service will be held at 2.30pm.

Born to a family of nine in Kuching on June 18, 1956, he received his primary education at the 10th Mile Chinese Primary School and his secondary education at Dragon Government Secondary School at Mile 24 Kuching-Serian Road.

In 1982, he graduated with a Bachelors Degree (Honours) in Public Administration from Demonfort University, Leicester in England.

Later in 1995, he obtained his Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management from the Hull University of UK.

On employment record, he has served for 24 years in the Sarawak State Civil Service in various capacities.

Among the posts he has held were Sarawak Administrative Officer, Assistant District Officer and Divisional Development Officer.

He also had a two-year stint in Peninsular Malaysia under the National Integration Officer Exchange Programme.

Since 1994, he had served the State Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), a State environmental authority responsible for the protection and enhancement of the environmental quality of the State.

He was the NREB controller before he was appointed as the Mayor of Kuching City South.

For his service in the State’s public sector, he was awarded the Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (PBK) in 2006 and the Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB) in 2001 by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Source : The Borneo Post