Riot (second left) presents a cheque from Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s special allocation to one of the village headmen, as Martin (second right) and political secretary to the Human Resources Minister Mejar (R) Peter Runin look on.
SERIAN: Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem hopes the positive momentum generated by Barisan Nasional in the just concluded state election will continue on until the coming 14th general election, which is to be held within the next two years.
The sixth-term Serian MP, who has expressed his wish to defend the seat, said all the BN candidates in the three state seats under Serian parliamentary constituency achieved bigger majorities which indicated voters still believed in BN.
“I hope in the next general election, there is no reason for BN supporters to switch camp to the opposition but to keep this momentum going. We don’t know who is the BN candidate yet for Serian. Hopefully, I’m still needed,” he said at the closing of Gawai Dayak at Kampung Terbat Leban, off Mongkos road on Sunday night.
The SUPP deputy president, who has represented Serian as MP for 26 years, said he felt very happy after finding out all three seats under Serian – Tebedu, Kedup and Bukit Semuja, were won by BN after results were announced on May 7.
Tebedu assemblyman Dato Sri Michael Manyin from PBB won by 6,193 vote-majority, Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben triumphed by 3,828 vote-majority while partyless Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus won by 3,144 vote-majority.
He said this indicated the voters were now more matured and they voted for BN candidates to ensure continuity of stability and development.
“Imagine if one of those seats fell to the opposition. It will be hard for me to execute my work as the parliamentarian for Serian. Thankfully, these seats are all under BN and I will not have problems working together with those three assemblymen because we are all under BN,” he said.
The function on Sunday night also saw Riot presenting cheques totalling RM300,000 which came from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The deputy premier had pledged the special allocation during an official visit to Terbat Leban on Sept 26 last year, to be disbursed to 13 villages.
From the special allocation, Terbat Leban received RM40,000, Terbat Mawang RM30,000, Bunan Gega RM25,000, Mujat RM25,000, Muara Ahi RM20,000, Mapu Kijabu RM20,000, Mapu Tantu RM20,000, Bunan Punok RM20,000, Mentu Pondok RM20,000, Mentu Mawang RM20,000, Muara Mongkos RM20,000 and Mentu Tapu RM20,000.
Riot also announced another RM500,000 from his own parliamentary allocation, comprising RM200,000 for Terbat Leban, RM100,000 for Terbat Mawang and RM200,000 for Muara Ahi for the purpose of building community halls in those villages. The cheques would be issued soon from the Sarawak Development Office, he added.
Meanwhile, Martin who spoke earlier, thanked the voters in Kedup for making the wise decision to vote BN into power again in the last election.
He said that under BN, many infrastructure projects were being implemented which would provide opportunity for the people in Kedup to improve their standard of living and achieve sustainable income.
He nonetheless acknowledged some projects had yet to commence and he called for their patience.