GE13: Former SNAP men to push Barisan’s Riot all the way

SERIAN: Of the trio of candidates contesting in Serian, two are from the defunct but once formidable SNAP.

Edward Luwak is now contesting on the DAP ticket, while another ex-member, Johnny Bob, is standing as a STAR candidate.

Serian, a semi-rural constituency about 50km from Kuching, is seeing a three-way contest between Edward, Johnny and former five-term incumbent Datuk Richard Riot, who has served since 1990.

This is the first time voters here will be presented with a choice to vote for a national opposition party.

“I do believe people understand DAP is a party for all Malaysians. Voters here care just as much about corruption as they do local issues like native land controversies,” Edward told The Star after nomination.

Edward, who joined DAP over a year ago and is the party’s Serian chief, said the local Chinese community was already pro-Opposition, and that among the bumiputra, he had good support from other ex-SNAP members.

Recently, another former SNAP member, Sylvester Belayong, pledged to help Edward register some 3,000 Dayak members in Serian as DAP members.

However, STAR’s Johnny said Serian voters should not trust a national opposition party.

“I believe in Pakatan Borneo. We have always been sidelined by the parties from Peninsular Malaysia. So many issues can be linked to us being sidelined. A Sarawak- and Sabah-based opposition party can be more effective,” Johnny said.

To a question on the fact that Barisan Nasional’s component parties in Sarawak are state-based, Johnny replied: “Yes, they are local parties, but everybody knows the peninsula Barisan parties are overpowering.”

Johnny, who came with a small entourage — unlike Barisan and DAP’s hordes of supporters — said he had intended to contest since the 2006 general election.

“I gave way before (when in SNAP). This time, I’m accepted to stand. I have a good chance.”

Nomination day at Serian began early.

By 7am, supporters had gathered outside the offices of Riot and Serian DAP headquarters, which were only about 200m apart.

Riot has dominated prior elections in this bumiputra-majority constituency of 33,764 eligible voters. In 1990, standing as an Independent against Barisan, he achieved a shock win. In every subsequent election since, Riot, who has since joined SUPP and is its deputy president, has won with larger vote majorities.

He is also caretaker Deputy Foreign Minister.

In Serian, about 70% of voters are Bidayuhs, followed by Ibans, 15%, Chinese, 11% and Malays, 4%.

Although Riot did not speak to reporters at the nomination centre, his proposer, PBB vice-president Datuk Seri Michael Manyin, said there was little reason for the local bumiputra community not to support Barisan.

“Bidayuh villages practically all have roads, with electricity and water supply, except for maybe two or three,” Manyin said after nomination.

“Of course as a leader of the Bidayuh, we never say that we’ve already done enough. When compared with other towns like Kuching, Sibu and the rest of Malaysia, we are still lagging behind.

“That is all the more reason we have to stay united so that we can continue to have all to progress.”


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