KUCHING: Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot said he would personally explain the issue concerning government assistance for SJK Chung Hua Serian during a dinner at Dewan Masyarakat Serian on Nov 6.
Riot, who is also Deputy Foreign Minister, disclosed this when met by reporters after opening the ministry’s outreach, information and public diplomacy programme at a hotel here yesterday.
He was asked to respond to a statement made by the vice-chairman of the school’s board of management, Sunny Kon, who on Oct 13 claimed that Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) did not help the school to build its multi-purpose hall.
But according to Riot, who is also SUPP Serian branch chief, he had helped by channelling grants to the school for its annual expenditure.
He, however, did not elaborate further as he would rather wait until the dinner which is organised by Hopoh Association.
In the news report published on Oct 14, Kon claimed the school was still short of RM800,000 to complete its school hall.
He had also said the estimated cost was RM2.5 million, and at the moment ‘less than three per cent came from the government’.
“We look to the BN for help,” he had said, while stressing he is a strong BN supporter even though he has no political affiliation.
Pointing out that about 81 per cent of Chinese voters were pro-BN in Serian in the 2008 election, he claimed that he was, however, often blamed by SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan for the poor support given by Serian Chinese to Riot.