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Richard Riot Still BN MP For Serian, Says SUPP President George Chan |
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Posted by admin
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 21:09 |
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Serian Member of Parliament Richard Riot is still with the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) despite intense speculation that he has left the party due to dissatisfaction for not being appointed to the federal Cabinet, it was disclosed.
SUPP president Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the party had not received any resignation letter from Richard, a Bidayuh and five-term MP for Serian.
"The party secretary-general and I have not received anything yet. I don't think it (rumour) is true. I have tried to contact him but to no avail," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Dr Chan admitted that Richard was a bit "upset" after he was not appointed to the federal Cabinet and he told him (Richard) to be patient as the party was trying to work out a solution for him.
"There is rumour saying that he wanted to join the opposition but up to now, we still cannot get in touch with him. I have asked YB Ranum (Mina)and YB Francis (Harden) to look for him as he could not be contacted," he said. Chan said he had recommended Richard's name together with party organising secretary Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui and the two vice-presidents (Datuk Robert Lau and Datuk Yong Khoon Seng) for federal Cabinet positions.
However, only three of the four were allocated posts -- Chin (Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister), Lau (Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister) and Yong (Deputy Works Minister).
"When I submitted the names, I had hoped that every one of them would get, including Richard, whom I recommended for a parliamentary secretary's post.
However, since the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdull ah Ahmad Badawi) decided to do away with the post, Richard was not in the list," said Dr Chan, adding that he still hoped that Abdullah would consider Richard for another post.
"At the moment, I just hope that he stays cool and let us work it out." Richard first stood for the Serian seat, a predominantly Bidayuh constituency, as an independent candidate in 1990 and later joined SUPP.
In the recently concluded general election, he defended the seat for the fifth term by defeating SNAP candidate Sylvester Belayong Jayang with a majority of 13,427 votes.
SUPP contested seven parliamentary seats and lost only one (Bandar Kuching) to the DAP. If Richard's resignation turns out to be true, the party stands to lose one more seat.
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