By Peter Sibon
SERIAN, Sept 19: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) can win the eight Bidayuh state seats but Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem cautioned not to underestimate the opposition.
Based on the sentiments of the 14th General Election (GE14), he reminded that two out of three Bidayuh parliamentary seats fell to the opposition.
“In politics, we must be confident to win but never be over confident against the opposition.
“In as far as I can access the current situation, GPS can win provided they have to work extra hard,” he told reporters after the Malaysia Day Santai Ride Serian 2020 at Kampung Pichin here today.
The Serian MP and Prime Minister Special Envoy to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan was asked to comment on the current sentiment among Bidayuh voters in the run up to the upcoming state election due in 2021.
Prior to this, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had expressed his concerns over the eight Bidayuh seats after Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak lost in Mas Gading and Puncak Borneo to Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) respectively.
However, the Bidayuh’s most senior politician, who is also PBB senior vice-president, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, had assured that the eight Bidayuh seats could be won by GPS.
These eight Bidayuh seats are Opar, Tasik Biru, Serembu, Mambong, Tarat, Bukit Semuja, Kedup and Tebedu.
Meanwhile, Riot who has been Serian MP since 1990, stressed that in order to win the Bidayuh seats, GPS including the incumbents have to work extra hard.
“I, myself, have continued to serve even after election. We must continue to serve the rakyat, that is very important as in politics, people may change at the last minute.
“To me it doesn’t make any different, whether election or no election, I will continue to serve the rakyat,” he emphasized.-DayakDaily
