A WhatsApp message circulating that SUPP's Serian MP Richard Riot (above) intends to join PKR could not be verified.

State PKR leader Baru Bian declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

He said: “There may be many people who want to join this party or that, but I am not confirming anything for now,” he said.

The WhatsApp message currently circulating reads: “Strong rumours that ex-federal human resource minister, Richard Riot is joining PKR. The info is from a top party echelon. The source is a well-known labour activist.”

When asked if the party will welcome Riot if he wants to join PKR, Baru Bian said they needed to see the bigger picture on such matters.

“We have to see not only as to what is good for the party but for the nation as a whole. There is a new landscape out there now,” he said.

In the recent polls, Riot defended the Serian parliamentary seat in a three-cornered fight by polling a 9,905 vote majority. He received a total of 17,545 votes.

His rival Edward Andrew Luwak (DAP) received 7,640 votes while independent candidate Senior Anak William Rade received only 2,234 votes.

Riot had a brush with the MACC on Sept 29 last year during which the parliamentarian spent hours being questioned for a probe into misappropriation of funds from the Skills Development Fund Corp (SDFC) amounting to RM40 million.

As part of investigations, his political secretary was detained for six days and a total of five other people were also detained.

Riot was not implicated but was called in to give his side of the story as part of the investigation process.