Growing support for Riot to contest Serian Parliamentary seat for 7th time in GE14
SERIAN: Human Resources Minister Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem yesterday received the unanimous support of all eight SUPP sub-branches in Serian to defend Serian parliamentary seat in the coming 14th General Election (GE14).
The six-term Serian MP, who has led SUPP Serian branch in the last 26 years, also received the unanimous support of the party’s women and youth wings to contest Serian for the seventh time.
SUPP Serian sub- branch advisor Chai Kim Sin said Riot is the most winnable and had no replacement for now.
Claiming to know Riot very well, he said Riot still has the stamina and the strength to ‘walk his talk’, besides at 66 he is younger than some other political leaders.
“It is stupid even to think of replacing someone who performed excellently and whose popularity keeps increasing. Yes, there are those who have been harping on him having been there for six terms and should give way to someone younger.
“I don’t see why people say our MP is too old to defend Serian come GE14, “Chai said when met during the SUPP Serian branch’s triennial general meeting (TGM).
SUPP Serian branch infornation chief Lawa Gunyau spoke strongly in favour of Riot’s candidacy in GE14 on behalf of the Iban voters in Serian, saying Riot is very popular among the Iban community here.
“I am the secretary of SUPP Balai Ringin sub branch which has been moving in the Ibanmajority area. I can say for sure, the Iban voters have only one candidate in mind — Datuk Seri Dr Richard Riot Jaem. “
Lawa who also heads the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association ( PVATM) Balai Ringin chapter, said they were unanimous in their support of Riot.
Riot also received the support of the Malay community. Akim Amit, a party member from Kpg Tebekang Melayu said Riot standing was not about winning Serian seat but more to better his previous vote-majority of more than 13,000 votes achieved in GE13.
“I don’t see this (increasing majority) as impossible because the one unique thing about SUPP is that all the while this party had only about 3,000 duly registered members but support for the incumbent in past polls was always overwhelming.
“SUPP in Serian now has more than 4,000 members, a significant increase since 2015. I believe this increase in membership will be reflected in a better majority in GE14,” Akim said.
Kapitan Lee Siaw Hui, the new SUPP Serian branch women chief, meanwhile said with many programmes already held and would be organised for women folk, she is confident ‘ women voters know where their political loyalty lies’.
Riot in his brief address said SUPP Serian must not disappoint Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who had shown that he had a soft spot not just for Sarawak and Sarawakians but for the Bidayuh as well.
He said the current PM was a far better leader than his predecessor who led the country for 22 years but did little to improve the livelihood of Sarawakians.
“His predecessor cannot compare to YAB PM who has served less than half of the 22 years, has shown he has great love for Sarawak. Therefore, come GE14, let us support YAB PM.
“Why should we support someone who was our PM for 22 years but did nothing to uplift the standard of living of Sarawakians, in particular rural Sarawakians who need good roads, more clinics and hospitals, more and better schools, including technical colleges,” Riot said to applause.
The TGM also saw Riot, from Kampung Pichin, re- elected as SUPP Serian chairman during yesterday’s TGM.