Apart from highlighting the disappointing condition of the roads that had becoming the centre of public complaints lately, Tiong said the meeting is also expected to hear the predicaments faced either by the contractors or the relevant government departments and agencies that prevent them from rectifying the condition efficiently.

"I have been observing that the pledges that I had received by those concerned to rectify the condition had not been fully implemented and prompting the public to complain about the potholes and lack of safety measures on the road. Yet, I am still prepared to hear from the contractors on the problem that they faced," he told reporters here Thursday.

Expressing his regrets with the road condition between Bintulu and Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, Bintulu-Airport Road and some feeder roads in the rural areas, he lamented promises by some of the contractors to have the roads properly repaired and potholes completely covered before the Chinese New Year had been left either "partly fulfilled or unfulfilled."

These attitudes had in one way or another affecting the integrity and image of the Barisan Nasional government who had always been sincere and dedicated towards fulfilling the obligation to serve the rakyat effectively.

"I will not settle for nothing less than an assurance from the contractors and the authorities concerned that works to rehabilitate and maintain the roads in Bintulu is carried out properly and expeditiously," he added.

Meanwhile, Tiong also expressed his gratefulness to the concern shown by the State Director of Health, Dr Yao Sik Chi with the state of medical facilities here. Dr Yao was here on Wednesday where he held a closed-door meeting with Tiong.

The Member of Parliament also welcomed the move by the State Medical Department to deploy another two specialists - an anaesthetist and a gynaecologist - to the divisional hospital here, who presently had two medical experts in the field of surgery and gynaecology.

However, he also hoped that the department would consider sending another two specialists to improve the services at the hospital.

The lacking number of specialists were also among the matter brought up by Tiong during a visit by the Deputy Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr Suleiman Mohamad to the hospital last month.

Tiong had also been assured that the department is also looking into expediting the construction of a haemodialysis centre at the hospital which had been delayed due to some technical problems. 

On another note, he also expressed his disappointment over the decision to remove the polyclinic from its present site along Lebuh Abang Galau here to a commercial centre at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi.

Being an elected representative of the people, he lamented that he was not informed directly about the proposal to relocate the polyclinic and from the feedback that he gathered, the polyclinic should have been re-developed on the present site for the convenience of the less privileged people.

He believed that the re-development works at the present site could save public fund and when carried out by experienced developer, could be completed within six months to one year.