PBB has the bigger slice of the cake but SPDP reduced to bystanders

KUCHING: There are highs and lows for Sarawak in the new Federal Cabinet line-up which, when taken as a whole, however, is still indicative of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s view of the state’s contri- bution to Barisan Nasional’s victory in the recent polls.

There is indeed a very significant increase in the number of full ministers from Sarawak but it has come at the expense of the number of deputy ministers.

There are now seven full ministers and four deputy ministers compared to three full ministers and eight deputy ministers in the previous cabinet.

The state Barisan Nasional party that has gained the most in the new line-up is PBB but that is not surprising considering that the party delivered a clean sweep of all its 14 seats in the general election.

From one full minister post in the previous cabinet, PBB now has four — Nancy Shukri (Prime Minister’s Department), Datuk Fadillah Yusof (Works), Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim (Women, Family and Community Development) and Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas (Plantation Industries and Commodities).

Its deputy ministers are Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Home Affairs), Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos (Natural Resources and Environment) and Alexander Nanta Linggi (Rural and Regional Development).

What is surprising is that SPDP, which also won with a clean sweep of four seats in the polls, was not given a single post; while SUPP’s sole survivor in the election, Datuk Richard Riot, was made a full minister. The Serian MP has been appointed Human Resources Minister.

Riot is the first Bidayuh to be appointed full minister and his ascension is certainly the envy of some of his colleagues in Barisan Nasional.

Although the appointment of ministers is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan would have some explaining to do.

It is unclear who Mawan had recom- mended to be included in the Federal Cabinet but during the campaign period, Mawan had told the Mas Gading electorate that he would put up new face Anthony Nogeh if the latter won.

Nogeh won and Mas Gading voters certainly will be asking Mawan questions.

Last week there were also speculations that SPDP treasurer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing could be appointed to the Federal Cabinet due to the small number of Barisan Nasional Chinese elected representatives from whom Najib could choose. In fact, Tiong is the only Chinese MP from Sarawak. Apparently, this also did not pan out.

From two deputy ministers in the previous Cabinet, SPDP now has zero and it would be interesting to see how the party comes to term with the Prime Minister’s decision in the days to come.

Over in PRS, which also exceeded expectations in the general election, its deputy president Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun was promoted to full minister as one of the eight Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department, while Salang was made to retain his post as Deputy Minister in the reorganised Tourism and Culture Ministry. The Julau MP, however, has rejected his appointment, saying he might as well spend time with his family.

Senator Datuk Idris Jala also retains his post as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Another SUPP branch supports Riot to be made full minister . The Star

KUCHING: Kuching SUPP has joined the bandwagon in recommending party deputy president Datuk Richard Riot to be appointed full minister.

Its chairman Datuk Lily Yong said the former Foreign Deputy Minister deserved to be promoted in the yet-to-be-formed Federal Cabinet.

Riot is SUPP’s sole survivor after six of his party comrades fielded in the elections were defeated.

Lily said Riot retained Serian, a Bidayuh-majority seat for SUPP and Barisan Nasional, and this reflected the party’s multi-racial concept.

“We have lost all Chinese-majority seats and only managed to retain Serian. The bumiputras in Serian have accepted SUPP as a multi-racial party.

“It is our hope that Riot will be promoted a full minister to help address issues faced by the bumiputra and Chinese,” she told a press conference here yesterday.

Yong, who is also SUPP vice-president, said now that the election was over, everyone had to accept the outcome and stop accusing one another for being unfair on polling day.

She said any accusation ought to be backed with evidence for the police and court investigations instead of playing up people’s emotion through the media.

“Whether we’re in Barisan or Opposition, we are responsible for stability in the country.

“Don’t instigate the people using racial issues and create situations that will not augur well for the country,” she said.

As far as SUPP was concerned, she said, it had to admit its failure to retain Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Lanang, Sibu and Miri, for Barisan.

“SUPP has been rejected by voters. Do not brand the voters or say something that will stir up their emotions.

“The voters including those coming back from overseas are mature enough and have the wisdom to decide between Barisan and Opposition,” she said.

Yong said she disagreed with the term “Chinese tsunami” used by the Prime Minister because SUPP represented urban dwellers who were disappointed with the party and Barisan.

The voters sent their first signal in 2006 state election but the party failed to take heed and react on it seriously, she said.

They sent a strong message in 2008 parliamentary elections, 2011 state election and again the just-concluded May 5 polls, she said.

“We’ve also failed to resolve internal factions in the party,” she said.

She believed that the 53-year-old party would slowly rise and peak again one day.

Asked if the branch would support Riot to be the next party president, Yong said they would support any leader who cared for all and could steer SUPP to a better footing than today.

“We should not look at him as a bumiputra or Chinese but rather look at his capability and ability to lead,” she added.

Riot ready to take over helm

SUPP deputy president says he is willing to run for presidency in 2014 if nominated by delegates

By Lian Cheng & Peter Sibon

KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy president Datuk Richard Riot may consider contesting for presidency in its 2014 triennial delegates conference (TDC) if there is enough support from the delegates.

The six-term Serian MP in a recent interview with The Borneo Post said  if the party delegates decided to give him a chance, he would accept it.

“If I prove my capability, I see no reason why I would not be accepted by the Chinese community which makes up about 82 per cent of the total membership of SUPP,” said Riot.

However, he stressed that he was not power crazy as he was even willing to give up his deputy president post now to Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, the estranged Sibu branch chairman whose faction’s disputes with the CWC (central working committee) has yet to be resolved, for the sake of party unity which is of paramount importance.

As SUPP’s sole winner in the May 5 general election, Riot said his immediate task was to reunite the party and get Soon Koh’s camp to come back into the fold so that the party could face the next state election as a united party.

“If the other camp still refuses to be in the committee, then it is very difficult.  Actually, according to party constitution, anyone who misses CWC meeting three consecutive times would have been 

automatically ousted.

“Yet until now, SUPP has not taken any action against the other camp. At every meeting, invitation has been extended to them as they are still considered part and parcel of the group,” said Riot.

The Serian MP disclosed that during the CWC meeting last Wednesday, party president Datuk Seri Peter Chin had actually resigned to take responsibility for the ill-performed result in the just concluded 13th General Election.

“Datuk Seri Peter Chin was saying: ‘Richard on my right here can take over from me as acting president.’ None of the CWC members objected to it. So silence meant consent.

“As a deputy president, I was the one who took the microphone from him (Chin) and said it was not the right time for him to abandon us. I told him to continue to lead us until the TDC,” said Riot.

When the CWC unanimously agreed to retain Chin, it was also agreed that the TDC would be brought forward to early 2014 especially after Chin’s strong indication of retiring as president of the party, said the only Bumiputera leader in the CWC.

“During that time (2014 TDC), if the delegates want Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh to lead, that is the time.

“That is why I would urge my fellow Bumiputera elected representatives to think seriously about it and come back to the party,” said Riot, who stressed that he was all for the 

party and the party’s survival.

And during that time, if the 

delegates nominated him, he said he would not refuse but to contest for presidency in good spirit.

“And if the delegates think that they would like to give me a chance, why not? If the delegates want me to be their leader, I would consider.

“Anyway, I don’t know yet. Let the delegates decide and confirm,” said Riot when asked if he would contest for presidency in the next SUPP’s TDC.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/12/riot-ready-to-take-over-helm/#ixzz2T22DglwU

Bright Future Awaits Riot

KUCHING: SUPP’s Central Working Committee (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 contested in seven 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 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.

SILVER LINING: Chin (left) speaks to reporters after chairing SUPP’s CWC meeting as Dr Sim looks on.
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 totally annihilated, it would not give up and 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 to 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 secretary-general 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.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/09/bright-future-awaits-riot/#ixzz2SkIriC7C

May 5 a day of mixed feelings for Riot

KUCHING: SUPP deputy president Datuk Richard Riot Jaem has expressed his sadness over the poor performance of the party in the 13th general election.
“As a deputy president of SUPP, I feel sad for my colleagues who stood and lost. They did not only lose but lost quite badly.
“Some areas which we initially thought to be grey turned out to be black,” the party’s sole surviving MP told reporters when met at Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s residence here yesterday.
Riot garnered 19,494 votes in Serian against Edward Andrew Luwak (DAP)’s 6,343 and Johnny Aput (STAR)’s 390.
SUPP lost in Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Miri, Lanang and Sibu.
Despite the poor performance, Riot said he believed SUPP was far from being ‘finished’.
“Even in front of the chief minister I said I’m still alive. Despite being the sole survivor, I hope we will be able to have some plans to make sure the party perform better in the next election.”
To a question whether SUPP’s survival now lay on his shoulders, Riot said: “I don’t think so because we still have to work as a team in the CWC (Central Working Committee).


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/06/may-5-a-day-of-mixed-feelings-for-riot/#ixzz2SUQAvQG3