KUCHING: The Serian parliamentary seat may see a battle between two old friends.
EDWARD ANDREW LUAK
Incumbent Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Richard Riot, who has indicated his readiness to defend the seat for the sixth term, may face his former schoolmate Edward Andrew Luak.
Edward, who is Democratic Action Party (DAP) Serian chairman, is a strong favourite to be nominated as Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) candidate for the seat.
When contacted, Riot said he is aware of DAP’s movements on the ground in Serian to canvass for support.
Like a true gentleman, Riot said he did not want to run down his opponent and wished Edward the best of luck.
“Edward was my schoolmate. He was two years my junior in school. I know his family too.
DATUK RICHARD RIOT
“But I don’t like to run down my opponents. I know they (DAP) have moved around (in Serian). We live in a democratic system, and may the best man win,” he said in a telephone interview.
On Friday, Edward, 58, a retired Shell employee, said he is ready to face off with Riot, who is a Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) central working committee member, in the coming general election.
“If given the chance by my party, I will be ready to face my friend Datuk Richard in Serian in the coming election,” Edward said.
“There is a strong wind of change among the Bidayuh (in Serian) for better governance, better accountability and to fight corruption and cronyism.”
He also stressed that he was never a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) member, but admitted offering himself as a candidate for PBB in the Kedup seat during the last state election.