KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Richard Riot Jaem will not contest the Sarawak United People’s Party’s (SUPP) president’s post.
Richard Riot Jaem
The SUPP central working committee (CWC) member said he would not seek the post during the December triennial delegates conference (TDC) as he is not “that ambitious”.
The five-term Serian MP said he would be grateful to remain an ordinary party member, as long as SUPP is united and strong.
“If you ask me whether I will contest (as president) in the coming TDC, I am saying no. I am not that ambitious because all I want is unity in the party and the party to become stronger.
“However, if the party wants me to become the president, I am prepared and willing (to take the post), but for me to contest, I will certainly not,” he said when contacted in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.Riot asserted that he will only become the party president if it is the wish of party members based on consensus.
Yesterday, several SUPP leaders, including president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and deputy secretary-general Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, were reported as having no qualms about a non-Chinese leading the party.
While Dr Chan said having a Bumiputera SUPP president was never an issue because the party is multiracial, Wong said the race of party members is not taken into account when it comes to party leadership.
Dr Chan and Wong were responding to Riot’s earlier statement during a function in Serian that he would be willing to take up the post for the sake of party unity.
Riot said while he welcomed their comments, he doubted there would ever be a non-Chinese president.
“Since the majority of party members are Chinese, it is only practical that the president is a Chinese.
“However, to reflect the true multiracial component of the party, if the president’s post goes to a Chinese, the deputy president’s post should be held by a non-Chinese,” he pointed out.
Riot added that he hoped the president’s post would not be contested to avoid further splits in the party.
Such a situation, he said, would have a negative impact on the party, particularly with the looming general election.
Wong and treasurer Datuk David Teng are said to be interested in contesting the post.