IN ACTION: A photo handout given by the DAP showing the dismantling of one of the billboards.
KUCHING: SUPP deputy president Datuk Richard Riot yesterday described the DAP’s move to politicise the dismantling of its Easter greeting billboards as a tactic to gain sympathy votes.
He said he believed there could be other reasons for the two billboards to be removed, but the DAP was not telling the whole truth in order to confuse the people, especially voters in Serian.
“I, for one, am not happy with such action. I throw a challenge to the DAP to lodge a police report with my name mentioned on it if they are sure I am involved so that I can take action.
“Serian is a peaceful district but the DAP is bringing the Peninsula-style of politics there which is not good,” he said yesterday.
Riot, who is also Serian incumbent and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said this when asked to comment on allegations hurled by DAP Serian branch chairman Edward Andrew Luak during a press conference held earlier.
Riot said he had never resorted to sabotaging his opponent during his five terms as Serian MP.
Because of this, he said, he was disappointed and angry with those who implicated him in the act.
“Not only do I deny any involvement, I have no idea (about the pulling down of the billboards) until an ex-penghulu texted me about it,” said Riot, who was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to attend the launching of the BN manifesto.
Barring any last minute changes, both Riot and Edward could face off in a straight fight for Serian, a predominantly Bidayuh constituency, in the 13th general election.
Earlier, Edward said there was a possibility Riot could be involved because he was told Riot had mentioned such billboards was not appropriate and should be dismantled at a recent gathering in Kampung Bunan Gega.
He claimed he was also told by Serian District Council that they had been directed to pull down the two Easter greeting billboards on Friday morning.
One of the billboards was erected at the roundabout near Serian Hospital and the other at the Tangga by-pass road junction.
Edward said the dismantling work started at 8.30am by council staff armed with chainsaws.
“It was regrettable that the billboards were pulled down even though there was an approval from the council for them to be displayed from March 28 to April 24, and that the licence fee of RM1,204 had been paid in full.
“The billboards were merely Easter festive greetings with wordings from an Easter song.
“A day earlier, I was requested by the council to remove the billboards but I appealed to them not to do it. After that, I met the council’s acting secretary who insisted that the billboards must go. The reason she gave was because Parliament was already dissolved.”
Edward added that not long after the billboards were pulled down a police report was lodged against the council, especially the acting secretary, for abuse of power. He cautioned that if the billboards were not re-erected on Monday, DAP Serian and members of the public would re-erect similar billboards the next day.
Meanwhile, state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said the council should have acted professionally and apolitically.
“The billboard was put up on March 30 but pulled down on April 5 after Parliament was dissolved. This shows that the Barisan Nasional is shaking,” he said.
sumber:theborneopost
He said he believed there could be other reasons for the two billboards to be removed, but the DAP was not telling the whole truth in order to confuse the people, especially voters in Serian.
“I, for one, am not happy with such action. I throw a challenge to the DAP to lodge a police report with my name mentioned on it if they are sure I am involved so that I can take action.
“Serian is a peaceful district but the DAP is bringing the Peninsula-style of politics there which is not good,” he said yesterday.
Riot, who is also Serian incumbent and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said this when asked to comment on allegations hurled by DAP Serian branch chairman Edward Andrew Luak during a press conference held earlier.
Riot said he had never resorted to sabotaging his opponent during his five terms as Serian MP.
Because of this, he said, he was disappointed and angry with those who implicated him in the act.
“Not only do I deny any involvement, I have no idea (about the pulling down of the billboards) until an ex-penghulu texted me about it,” said Riot, who was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to attend the launching of the BN manifesto.
Barring any last minute changes, both Riot and Edward could face off in a straight fight for Serian, a predominantly Bidayuh constituency, in the 13th general election.
Earlier, Edward said there was a possibility Riot could be involved because he was told Riot had mentioned such billboards was not appropriate and should be dismantled at a recent gathering in Kampung Bunan Gega.
He claimed he was also told by Serian District Council that they had been directed to pull down the two Easter greeting billboards on Friday morning.
One of the billboards was erected at the roundabout near Serian Hospital and the other at the Tangga by-pass road junction.
Edward said the dismantling work started at 8.30am by council staff armed with chainsaws.
“It was regrettable that the billboards were pulled down even though there was an approval from the council for them to be displayed from March 28 to April 24, and that the licence fee of RM1,204 had been paid in full.
“The billboards were merely Easter festive greetings with wordings from an Easter song.
“A day earlier, I was requested by the council to remove the billboards but I appealed to them not to do it. After that, I met the council’s acting secretary who insisted that the billboards must go. The reason she gave was because Parliament was already dissolved.”
Edward added that not long after the billboards were pulled down a police report was lodged against the council, especially the acting secretary, for abuse of power. He cautioned that if the billboards were not re-erected on Monday, DAP Serian and members of the public would re-erect similar billboards the next day.
Meanwhile, state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said the council should have acted professionally and apolitically.
“The billboard was put up on March 30 but pulled down on April 5 after Parliament was dissolved. This shows that the Barisan Nasional is shaking,” he said.
sumber:theborneopost
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