KUCHING: Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot Jaem does not see the decision by former exco member of the defunct Sarawak National Party (SNAP) Sylvester Belayong to join Democratic Action Party (DAP) as a major threat to him in defending his seat in the soon-to-be-called general election.
He said he was not perturbed by Belayong’s claim that he (Belayong) would be able to bring over 3,000 members to DAP, and remained optimistic that he would secure the seat for BN.
“Whatever the opposition and Belayong may say, I am very optimistic that I will still be able to defend Serian,” he told The Borneo Post when met at the funeral of the late ASP Michael Padel, who was buried at the Heroes Grave at Jalan Budaya here yesterday.
Michael, 36, who was among the eight policemen killed in clashes with armed intruders in Sabah, was from Kampung Tebakang Bidayuh, Serian, one of the villages under Riot’s parliamentary constituency.
The Deputy Foreign Minister was asked to comment on Belayong’s announcement on Tuesday that he was joining DAP and would use his influence to help the party recruit more than 3,000 members in the coming months.
“No matter what the opposition said, I am very optimistic especially with the help of the other BN component parties, particularly PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu), SPDP (Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party) and PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak), of course together with my own party SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party),” he pointed out.
However, despite his optimism, he said he would not let his guard down but would continue to work very hard on the ground.
“As usual I never want to be over confident and instead will continue to work very hard on the ground. In fact, from day one after winning the seat I have always been going around on the ground. To me election or no election is the same,” he added.
“The only difference is when election time is coming I will have to work a bit harder and put in place all preparations,” he disclosed.
He added that by now his election machinery was 100 per cent ready and his operations room was raring to face the election.