Tiong King Sing
Dato Sri Tiong King Sing (simplified Chinese: 张庆信; traditional Chinese: 張慶信; pinyin: Zhāng Qìngxìn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiong Khìng-Sìn; born 3 September 1961) is a Malaysian politician. He is currently the Member of Parliament (MP) of Malaysia for the Bintulu constituency in Sarawak. Tiong was previously appointed by former Prime Minister of the federal ruling National Front (BN) coalition, Najib Razak, as Malaysia's Special Envoy to East Asia covering Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in 2014[1]; until the appointment was terminated by the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018.[2] He is appointed as Special Envoy of Malaysia the second time; but to the People's Republic of China by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in April 2020.[3][4]
Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Tiong King Sing | |
---|---|
张庆信 | |
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia (People's Republic of China) | |
Assumed office 20 April 2020 | |
Monarch | Abdullah |
Prime Minister | Muhyiddin Muhammad Yassin |
Preceded by | Tan Kok Wai |
Constituency | Bintulu |
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia (East Asia) | |
In office 3 January 2014 – 19 April 2020 | |
Monarch | Abdul Halim Muhammad V Abdullah |
Prime Minister | Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak Mahathir Mohamad Muhyiddin Muhammad Yassin |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Richard Riot Jaem |
Constituency | Bintulu |
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Bintulu | |
Assumed office 29 November 1999 | |
Preceded by | Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) |
Majority | 1,400 (1999) 11,267 (2004) 14,966 (2008) 7,433 (2013) 7,022 (2018) |
Personal details | |
Born | Tiong King Sing 3 September 1961 Sibu, Crown Colony of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia) |
Political party | Sarawak National Party (SNAP) (until 2002) Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) (2002–2017) Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) (2017–present) |
Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (until 2018) Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) (2018–present) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (2020-present) |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Businessman |
Website | p216bintulu |
Chinese name | |
Traditional Chinese | 張慶信 |
Simplified Chinese | 张庆信 |
Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Qìngxìn |
Hokkien POJ | Tiong Khìng-Sìn |
Tiong is the president of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP). In accordance with its expansion to West Malaysia in 2017, the party was rebranded with its new name and logo from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP); previously a ruling component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.[5] Following the fall of BN in the 2018 general election and in the aftermath of meeting between all Sarawak-based BN coalition parties on 12 June 2018, PDP leave the coalition to formed a new Sarawak-based coalition of Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS).[6]
Tiong was originally a member of the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) but was dismissed in 2002 for what the party cited as disciplinary reasons.[7] He subsequently joined the SPDP.[8] In 2007 he became involved in a dispute with police administration alleging that criminal gangs were acting with impunity throughout Sarawak but that his concerns were not being addressed by police.[9][10] His outspokenness was reported to have triggered a large police operation against criminal organisations in the State.[11] Tiong subsequently received mail threats, including a parcel of shotgun cartridges, at his constituency office.[12][13] At the 2008 general election, he successfully defended his seat receiving 73% of the vote.[14]
Tiong was re-elected to Parliament again in 2013 general election, and the following year became the President of the SPDP, replacing William Mawan Ikom, who had resigned from the party.
In 2018 general election, Tiong retained his seat in Bintulu with a majority of 7,022.
Kong-Kali-Kong pet phrase
- See also: empty vessels make the most sound (tong kosong nyaring bunyinya, air beriak tanda tak dalam, berkocak tanda tak penuh)
Tiong King Sing introduced a pet phrase into Parliament when he described Opposition lawmakers as "Kong-Kali-Kong" MPs. Tiong made the remark after several opposition MPs lashed out at Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers, in particular Azalina Othman Said (Umno-Pengerang) for tabling a motion to suspend Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Gelang Patah). Among the opposition lawmakers who voiced their disagreement with the tabling of the motion were Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) and Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara). In an attempt to silence them, Tiong used the term "Kong-Kali-Kong" on them, which he explained as "empty vessels" or "people with no insight on any matter whatsoever." This remark was followed by roars of laughter from other MPs who practically drowned out Gobind, who asked sarcastically, "What does that mean? Is that Bahasa Malaysia?" The pandemonium was triggered when Lim was suspended from Parliament for six months for refusing to apologise or retract his allegation that Pandikar Amin Mulia had abused his position as Dewan Rakyat Speaker on the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) investigations on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) when he ordered that it be temporarily suspended. Speaking up in defence of Pandikar, Tiong said the Speaker had to be firm in allowing the motion to be tabled by Azalina for voting. "Remember, we have to respect the Speaker," Tiong said, adding that he believed opposition MPs would never admit their faults and would instead continue to block the issue from being debated.[15][16]
Election results
Year | Government | Votes | Pct | Opposition | Votes | Pct | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Tiong King Sing (SNAP) | 15,681 | 52% | Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) | 14,281 | 47% | ||
2004 | Tiong King Sing (SPDP) | 20,225 | 63% | |||||
Chiew Chiu Sing (DAP) | 8,958 | 28% | ||||||
Lau Hieng Kii (SNAP) | 2,583 | 8% | ||||||
2008 | Tiong King Sing (SPDP) | 23,628 | 72% | Lim Su Kien (DAP) | 8,662 | 27% | ||
2013 | Tiong King Sing (SPDP) | 26,458 | 58% | John Brian Anthony (DAP) | 19,025 | 42% | ||
2018 | Tiong King Sing (PDP) | 27,076 | 57% | |||||
Chiew Chan Yew (DAP) | 20,054 | 42% | ||||||
Chieng Lea Phing (STAR) | 328 | 1% | ||||||
Honours
Malaysia : Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2007)
Kelantan : Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (DPMK) – Dato' (2009)[18]
Pahang : Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2006)
Sarawak : Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato' Sri (2018)[19]
Selangor : Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) – Dato' (1996) Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Dato' Seri (2000)
See also
References
- "Tiong appointed special envoy to Far East". The Malay Mail. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- Justin Ong (7 July 2018). "Report: Putrajaya axing special envoys, advisers". The Star. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- "PMO: Tiong King Sing appointed as PM's minister-level special envoy to China". Malay Mail. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- Koya, Zakiah (20 April 2020). "PDP chief Tiong is now PM's special envoy to China". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- "PDP plans to expand to Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Klang Valley". Borneo Post. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- Sharon Ling; Geryl Ogilvy (12 June 2018). "Sarawak BN parties pull out of coalition to form independent state-based pact". The Star. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- "`Nine who walked out did not want to participate in sacking'". New Straits Times. 22 April 2002.
- "SPDP to object to SNAP rejoining BN". New Straits Times. 18 November 2003.
- D'Cruz, Fay Angela (1 April 2007). "MP: Come and see the gangsters running riot". New Straits Times.
- "Sarawak top cop breaks his silence on gangsters". New Straits Times. 3 April 2007.
- "Police closing in on gangsters". New Straits Times. 8 June 2007.
- "Warning to IGP and Bintulu MP". New Straits Times. 31 July 2007.
- "Shotgun cartridges in mail for Bintulu MP, IGP". The Star. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- Hamdan Ismail (10 March 2008). "BN Does Well in Northern Sarawak". Berita Wilayah Sarawak. Bernama. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- "Opposition made up of 'Kong-Kali-Kong' MPs, says BN man | Free Malaysia Today".
- ""Kong Kali Kong" Di Parlimen – YouTube".
- "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 April 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout (including votes for candidates not listed).
- "641 terima anugerah sempena Hari Keputeraan" (in Malay). Utusan Melayu. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- "CM's wife leads list of TYT award recipients". Othman Ishak. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.