DAP today called on Human Resources Minister Richard Riot, to take leave while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigated the misappropriation of RM40 million from his ministry’s Skills Development Fund Corporation.

Edward Andrew Luwak, chairman of the DAP branch in Riot’s Serian parliamentary constituency, said it was appropriate that Riot go on leave as his political secretary was also under probe for his role in the missing funds.

Riot’s 61 year-old political secretary, a retired army major, was yesterday remanded for six days.

He was arrested at 12.30pm on Wednesday at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after giving his statement.

Riot was also summoned this morning to give his statement.

Luwak, who was roundly beaten by Riot in the polls for the predominantly Bidayuh Serian seat in the 2013 general election, said Riot staying on could complicate the MACC investigation.

Luwak called on Riot to do the right thing.

“Take leave and allow the investigation to be carried out without any interference.”

Riot has called on the public not to assume guilt on the part of the six people, including his aide,   who have been arrested by MACC.

He said the six were under investigation and had not been convicted of crime.

It is a sad fact that Malaysians are usually quick to assume that those who have been arrested are already guilty, he said.

Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) leaders, who claimed they were “caught by total surprise” by the arrest of Riot’s aide, said they would wait to see what emerged from the probe.

They hope the MACC would disclose more details of their arrests.

SUPP information chief Adam Yii said in the interest of justice, a person or persons arrested cannot be deemed as already being guilty.

They must be given a fair chance to tell their side of the story, he said.

Riot, the six-term Serian MP, is the first non-Chinese to become SUPP deputy president.

He was elected to the post at the party’s controversial triennial assembly in 2011. – September 29, 2017.