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.