Riot upbeat about Chinese support
SERIAN: Human Resources Minister Dato Sri Dr Richard Riot Jaem believes the Chinese are ‘steadily’ returning to Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).
Speaking at a Chinese New Year dinner gathering Monday, the six-term Serian MP said he was confident this ‘positive development’ would translate into votes for Barisan Nasional (BN) come the 14th general election (GE14).
“I can see that members of the Chinese community are steadily returning to SUPP. All my functions in Chinese majority areas are well-attended, which is something that did not happen before and immediately after GE13,” he told a crowd of 300 seated CNY diners who packed the village hall at Kpg Muhibbah, a Chinese village just a kilometre out of town.
Riot said there were times in the past when he felt nervous about officiating events in Chinese villages because of low attendance.
He said too many times in the past he was met only by the chief organiser and his group of committee members.
“Not anymore, though. Last week in Muara Ahi near Mongkos, a village of just 40 families, I had more than 500 pre-CNY diners for company,” he said.
He thanked the Chinese community leaders who never failed to show up in many of his recent functions, making special mention of names like Temenggong Jee Ah Chok and Pemanca Chai Min Lee.
Riot also said his up and coming events with the Chinese community will be two CNYrelated gatherings on Feb 23 and 24.
On Feb 23, he will be hosted by the Sg Menyan Chinese community at Balai Ringin community hall. The next day he will be guest-of-honour at the Serian Division CNY dinner at Dewan SJK Chung Hua hosted by the Serian Town Chinese community.
“As their MP, I have always been trying to reach out to the Chinese. I must say this time they are reciprocating my gesture and I must thank you for that,” he said to loud applause.
Riot later gave away CNY gifts to the elderly and the disabled and announced a Minor Rural Project grant of RM15,000 to the village development and security committee (JKKK).
Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus who accompanied him to the dinner also gave away CNY gifts to some needy members of the community.