SIBU: New investments, and improvements in infrastructure and facilities top the list of requests that voters here want their elected representatives to look into following the 12th Sarawak election.

       Shipping executive, Albert Tay, 55, wants his elected representative to bring in new investments to revive the economy.

       "We cannot depend solely on shipbuilding. The timber business is at its dusk and no longer a strong pull for prospective investors. New viable economic prospects must be sought. Other developments will naturally follow once the economy is revived," he said.

       Tay reckoned that Sibu has been losing out to other cities and towns in the state even though it was strategically situated. and has vast land but not much investments.

       Eddy Puah, the 52-year-old senior general manager of a property development company, wants the elected representatives to provide an achievable five-year development master plan for the town.

       Puah added that he wanted the master plan so that there were provisions for orderly economic development.

       He also called for elected representatives to show to the voters their five-year report card before the next election.

       "Tell us what is the future for Sibu. Then by the next election, present a report card telling us what you have done in relation to the five-year plan.

       "Did you achieve what you said you would do, five years ago? If not, why? If yes, great," he said.

       On the micro level, Puah said as the town was quite dark at night, more street lighting was needed.

       Direct sales representative Chan Ming Sung, 56, meanwhile, wants better roads and improvements to the drainage system.

       "I am staying in the Pelawan constituency but will be voting in Bukit Assek as I have not changed my voting place. Nevertheless, issues such as roads and drainage affect the whole town," he said.

       Chan said some roads needed to be upgraded into double-lanes to ease traffic congestion while the drainage issues at low-lying areas needed to be overcome to prevent frequent floods.

       E-hailing driver Ngu Wu Pow also called for speedier construction of the Pan-Borneo Highway, as he said construction work was too slow.