KUCHING, March 1: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) has clarified that its deputy president Datuk Seri Richard Riot is not leaving the party.
According to SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting in a press statement, he had contacted the Serian MP and confirmed that it was not true that Riot has left SUPP to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
“On the 29th February 2020 (yesterday), it was widely reported in most national and local newspapers on their news portals, including other alternative media, that YB Dato’ Sri Richard Riot Jaem, Serian Member of Parliament, had officially joined PKR.
“As the Secretary General of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party, of which YB Dato’ Sri Richard Riot is the Deputy President 1, I wish to clarify and confirm that YB Dato’ Sri Richard Riot and I had communicated with each other and he confirmed that he had not officially joined PKR, as reported.
“He further mentioned that he had not seen PKR’s membership application form and had indeed not signed any such membership application form at all.
“He would like to stress that he has not joined and will not join PKR,” said Ting in a statement.
Contrary to the message posted by PKR’s communication director Fahmi Fadzil yesterday, Riot insisted that he remains with SUPP and will not switch camps to support Pakatan Harapan.
“I never left SUPP or GPS. I never joined PKR and will not join it.
“But, yes, I supported Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) to be the eighth prime minister (PM8).
“I did not support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin because PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) is in his camp.
“Two names were put (forward) to be PM8 (Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin). We were to choose and I chose Tun Dr M because PAS is with Muhyiddin.
“To say that I have joined PKR is not true. I never joined and will not join PKR,” he told DayakDaily in a WhatsApp message. — DayakDaily
