KOTA KINABALU: Warisan is hitting back at what it calls a “planned smear campaign” targeting the party in the run-up to the Sabah polls, filing police reports across the state to combat the spread of false and seditious information.
Warisan election director Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking said the reports will be made across all state constituencies impacted by the circulation of information by other contending parties that contain slanderous, seditious and false information against the party.
“These actions are serious election offences and cannot be tolerated. This is not just dirty politics but planned and systematic election offences that intend to cheat, confuse and scare Sabah voters with fabricated information and slander.
“The people of Sabah deserve a campaign based on facts, policies and the future, not lies,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 25).
Leiking, who is also Warisan deputy president, said the lodged reports will list offences under the Elections Offences Act 1954 and also the Penal Code.
Warisan, he said, urges the police to investigate the reports through the lens of organised crime across the state.
“The Election Commission cannot remain quiet. They must investigate the misuse of the democratic process.
“Any lies that touch on sensitivities or falsify information is an attack on the integrity of elections,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said they received 472 complaints as of Monday (Nov 24) regarding campaign offences.
“This includes ceramah without permits and offences involving campaign materials. We have taken note and we will take further action,” he added.
Sabah police have, meanwhile, received 85 reports on minor election offences with 53 investigation papers opened as of Monday.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the offences include abuse of social media and vandalism, but does not affect the campaign and election process.
He said overall, the campaign processes in all places have been running smoothly thus far, with minor issues reported.
The Sabah polls will take place this Saturday (Nov 29).
