I can still serve as MP, says Serian ‘young at heart’ incumbent
TEBEDU: Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem believes that he is still able to serve as parliamentarian for the people in Serian.
He points out that even at 67 years old, he still feels ‘young at heart’.
Riot made this statement in response to a claim about certain people in Serian who did not want him to be re-nominated as Barisan Nasional ( BN) candidate for the constituency in the May 9 election, on ground that he was ‘ too old for the job’.
He cited Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – the former prime minister who still wants to serve again despite his age of 93 – as comparison for his argument.
“If he ( Dr Mahathir) still wants to serve the people, then why can’t I? I still have what it takes to be an elected representative and I am still ‘ young’ when compared with him,” he spoke at the launch of the Human Resources Ministry’s ‘ Program Mesra Bersama Masyarakat’ in the disctrict community hall here yesterday.
Adding on, Riot also expressed his hope for the voters in Serian to ‘choose wisely , should they want to see more development in their area’.
“During my time as MP, I have brought many developments to Serian. As a minister ( Human Resources), I have also helped bring in top facilities available in the country to Serian. I hope the people of Serian would remember me for that.”
Meanwhile, seven individuals received Social Security Organisation ( Socso) cheques from Riot.
A gimmick handover helmets to five motorcyclists was also performed as part of the opening ceremony, witnessed by Socso chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
Additionally, Riot pointed out during the ceremony that his ministry preferred the abbreviation ‘Perkeso’ to ‘Socso’, because the latter sounded very similar to ‘ Sesco’ ( Syarikat Sesco Bhd).
Perkeso is short for ‘ Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial’ – the Bahasa Malaysia version of the organisation’s name.