KUCHING: Foreign Deputy Minister Datuk Richard Riot (pic) is optimistic about Barisan Nasional’s chances in Serian despite talk that DAP is gaining ground support there.
He said if he was renominated to defend the seat in the general election, Serian would still go to Barisan.
Riot, who is into his fifth term, said people could speculate anything they wanted but when the time came, Barisan would still win the seat.
“If given the chance, I’m confident I will win again with the help of other BN component parties – PBB, SPDP and PRS.
“However, I cannot afford to be over-confident or complacent. I will still have to campaign hard,” he told The Star yesterday.
Riot said election or no election, it was the same to him because he had been on the ground every weekend.
“Except that I will have to work a bit harder come election.”
On talk that the split in SUPP might affect his votes, Riot said there was no split in Serian SUPP.
He said there was only one SUPP team in Serian. “As far as SUPP in Serian is concerned, I am in full control.”
“The branch is in unison, we are united and the party’s machinery is all ready for the election,” he said.
Rumours are that Riot’s name is not the only one submitted to national BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, which if true could only mean that Serian SUPP is divided over candidacy.
Such division could trickle down to polling day, local political observers said.
Serian coffeeshop talk seems to indicate a growing favour for a new face said to have been nominated by Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh’s camp.
On reports that DAP was gaining influence in Serian, Riot said DAP could claim the moon and the sky, but at the end of the day it was the voters who had the final say.
“I’m not overly concerned with what they are doing and their claims. I’m just concentrating on my work as an MP and will continue to serve the constituents as long as I’m still an MP.”
DAP challenge is being fronted by the party’s Serian chief Edward Luwak.
Edward, the younger brother of former MP Lainus Luwak, was a corporate figure before going into politics,
In the late 80s, Edward was private secretary to the late Datuk Michael Ben when the latter was assistant minister. Therefore, he is no stranger to Serian politics.
In fact, Edward is said to be the brains behind Ben’s brief affair with PBDS, and that when Ben leapfrogged into PBB, Edward resigned.
Observers of local politics say if Edward contests Serian, he will relish every moment of it because it will be his chance to take on Riot, the man once seen as the Bidayuh PBDS’ connection, but jumped ship to revive SUPP’s stranglehold over Serian.
“I don’t want to be too optimistic, but in Serian town I think I have a slight edge,” Edward said yesterday.
“First, there is a growing clamour for change... change to old policies, change to things that don’t seem to improve for the better around town, and change because there is a need to have new ideas.
“Second, a growing young generation of voters who see there is nothing for them in the old scheme of things.
“And third, go to the marketplace, meet the business community, talk to the hawkers and have a close look at the streets and roads, there are so many things wanting there but there appears to be a denial mode on the part of the authorities,” he said.
“Our society is becoming more knowledgeable by the day, you can’t remain in denial mode and expect the people to accept whatever there is.”
Asked how he saw his support in the villages, Edward said the denial mode there was even worse even as Bidayuhs were scrambling to defend their land rights.
“Land is dear to the people, and I want to seriously address the issue. Unfortunately, there are people who appear to be happy and celebrating every weekend, singing and dancing as if the problem does not exist.”
Asked how he rates his overall chances now, Edward said: “Mine is 40%. I am the underdog... the David, but that’s a good start because I see I will be adding on to that in the days ahead.”
From The Star
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