Sarawak Environment and Public Health Minister Wong Soon Koh met more than 100 longhouse chiefs and their followers here today and once again acknowledged his debt to bumiputera voters.

Wong, a stalwart of the Sarawak United People's Party, said he would never have been able to retain Sibu’s Bawang Assan seat in the April 16 state election without the overwhelming support of the bumiputera community.

Wong, who won for the fourth consecutive time, was one of only two SUPP Chinese candidates who successfully defended their seats.

After the meeting at the SUPP branch office here, Wong told reporters: "I am very confident that in the coming parliamentary election, Bawang Assan will again be a impenetrable BN fortress."

Earlier, Wong presented 96 units of weighing scales to 96 longhouse chiefs.

He said the scales costing RM15,000 would come in handy when fishermen and farmers in the area had to deal with middlemen.

Wong also proposed the setting up of a farmer co-operative to help them market their products.

- Bernama