Kota Kinabalu: At least three parties have lodged reports statewide over alleged defamatory postings on social media as well as banners and flyers during the current 17th Sabah State Election campaign period.
Parti Warisan lodged multiple reports following the widespread distribution of pamphlets and other materials containing “serious defamation, incitement and false information” about the party.
Advertisement
The party condemned the actions, calling them serious election crimes.
Deputy President Darell Leiking said the actions go beyond dirty politics as they are a well-organised campaign of lies, designed to manipulate and intimidate voters with fabricated stories and malicious rumours.
“We will not tolerate such behaviour. This is a serious election crime and we demand that those responsible be held accountable immediately,” he said.
The materials, which included flyers resembling Malaysian identification cards bearing the face of a convicted Filipino murderer, claimed that Warisan would grant citizenship to foreigners, if elected to office.
A banner also included a controversial quote by President Shafie Apdal, taken out of context, in which he allegedly referred to a certain ethnic group as “kafir” (non-believers).
He urged voters to reject such divisive and deceitful campaigns, stressing that the people have the right to make their decision based on truth, not fear and misinformation.
In BONGAWAN, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) Supreme Council Member Siti Rukiah Ahmad lodged a report on behalf of party president and candidate for Bongawan Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Tan Sri Anifah Aman, regarding a voice recording circulating in a WhatsApp group called “PENGUNDI LUAR.”
The recording claims that Anifah directed out-of-town voters to collect travel allowances from BTC Luyang to return home and vote in the election.
She said Anifah never issued such a directive and that it was a clear attempt to deceive the public.
Anifah described it as a form of election manipulation, stating that spreading false information to mislead voters was a desperate tactic used by certain parties.
He emphasized that such actions undermined the integrity of the electoral process and called for a more honourable approach to campaigning.
He expressed determination to take legal action against those behind the smear campaign.
In LAHAD DATU, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) election agent together with Silam Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) Pemuda, Wanita and Beliawanis lodged a report over a posting in social media slandering their candidate, Datuk Mizma Appehdullah.
Silam GRS Election Agent, Rosly Sawal, said it followed a posting uploaded by an individual in connection with a land application.
“The posting was incorrect, confusing, and mixed with slander with the intention to bring down the credibility of our candidate,” he said.
.jpg)
