Bright future awaits Riot
SUPP to recommend Serian MP to be appointed a full minister in the federal cabinet
KUCHING: SUPP’s Central Working Commit tee ( CWC) yesterday unanimously agreed to recommend to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot be appointed a full minister.
Its president Datuk Seri Peter Chin told reporters this after chairing the CWC meeting at party headquarters. However, he did not give the reason for making this recommendation.
But Riot, who was present, later told reporters that, “I am the sole survivor (from SUPP in the 13th General Election) so the party unanimously agreed to this recommendation.”
Riot , who is also SUPP deputy president, is currently caretaker deputy foreign affairs minister.
“The final decision, of course, rests with the prime minister. If I were made a full minister, it would be a heavy responsibility, but I am ready to shoulder them and be the voice for my comrades who lost,” said Riot.
In the May 5 general election, SUPP c ont e st e d in s even constituencies but only managed to retain Serian. It not only failed to wrest Bandar Kuching and Sibu from the DAP but also lost Sarikei, Lanang, Stampin (all to the DAP) and Miri (to PKR).
On the polls result, Chin said some party members could have turned saboteurs.
“There were disturbances by some people, and we will look into
I am the sole survivor (from SUPP in the 13th General Election) so the party unanimously agreed to this recommendation.
Datuk Richard Riot, Serian MP
this very closely.”
Despite the disastrous outing, Chin said the party could take consolation in the fact that the loss in Sarikei and Miri were marginal. In Sarikei, the lost was by 505 votes and in Miri 1,992.
“It shows that the party’s performance has improved since the last state election in 2011,” he said, adding that this would give them the needed push to face the 11th state election.
The 10th state election was held in April 2011 and the term of the current State Legislative Assembly expires in 2016.
Chin also noted that the voting pattern of the urban Chinese nationwide in GE13 was very “one sided and obviously in favour of the opposition”.
“But we will have to wait for detailed post- mortem reports on each constituency to see the elements and factors that affected the final results.
“There is still a silver lining in the dark clouds, and we hope to recover some seats then (in the next polls)”, said Chin.
On the six candidates who lost, Chin said they had been tasked to conduct a post-mortem on their respective constituencies and to “submit their reports within two weeks”.
“Depending on the cost, we would also like to commission an independent study on these constituencies to find out the reasons for the losses, especially in Sarikei and Miri.”
On SUPP Youth chief Tan Kai who lost in Bandar Kuching, Chin commented that Tan, being a first timer, had done “fairly well”.
“Despite the loss, the result is still positive, and it is a good experience for him (Tan).”
Chin said although the party was nearly annihilated, it would not give up but would continue to serve the people in areas where its services were needed.
“Our determination to serve is still very high.”
The meeting yesterday also decided to hold its central committee (CC) meeting sooner, and have tentatively fixed June 23 this year for the meet.
The purpose, Chin said, was to explain to members what had happened in GE13 and receive feedback from them.
On another matter, the CWC also decided to go ahead with the party’s 54th anniversary celebration on June 4, and the Youth and Wanita wings have been tasked to plan the programme for the celebration.
Others present at the meeting were the party’s secretarygeneral Prof Dr Sim Kian Hui, vice-presidents Andy Chia and Tan Joo Phoi, treasurer-general Datuk David Teng, Publicity and Information secretary Datuk Sebastian Ting and Tan, Youth secretary- general Wilfred Yap and Wanita chief Amy Tnay.