• MEETING THE PEOPLE: Tiong speaks at a longhouse.

Speaking at meet-the-people sessions as he visited Rumah Yeos, Rumah Tangdang, Kemena Port Housing Estate and Kampung Segan last weekend, he said several rural people had complained to him about being persuaded not to go voting.

“I believe the groups are using various tactics to prevent them from voting for the candidate of their choice.”

Without giving specifics on the identities of the individuals in the groups, he alleged that money had been used to entice villagers, spread rumours, and mislead them into voting for the wrong candidate.

“They told people to cross the box of the candidate that they don’t want to vote for. This is misleading.”

He said the groups were also luring people to bet on the election results, which could render the democratic process less than fair.

Urging the residents not to be influenced and to vote with the right frame of mind, he said they should not feel threatened as their freedom was guaranteed.

Tiong, who is also a Justice of the Peace, called on rural community leaders to watch out for and protect their people.

“Make sure the old folks and new voters are not being influenced,” he said, adding that the groups could be targeting rural people who were na?ve.

Tiong, the incumbent of Bintulu MP, suspected that someone could be trying to prevent him from retaining his seat.

He told the villagers that when they voted, they must vote for their future, the government of their choice and a representative who would help and serve them.

“Don’t vote for your pocket. Don’t be greedy for some immediate cash. You might win, but you will lose your future, and your children will suffer.”

The BN candidate also alleged that the groups also went to the villages to put up election posters by force.

“With all the men out working, the women dared not protest. They just watched,” said Tiong, who has been called ‘Friend of the people’.

He has been extremely busy these past few days. Last week, he travelled about 75 km to Kampung Nyalau and shared with the villagers the aspiration and mission of the Barisan Nasional in the next five years.

The people shared their views too and Tiong listened promised to continue serving them. One problem that the locals brought was the upgrading of their road that links their villages to Bintulu.

Tiong said there was already a plan by the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) to tar-seal the road and he would get the authority to get to it soonest.

On the supply of electricity and water for the village, Tiong said he had taken the matter to the federal government. Currently, they are relying on generator sets for power.

Tiong assured them that he would help those with land problems, and that if theirs were native customary land, he would help protect them.