SAPP target of smear tactics again – Melanie
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) appears to be once again a target of dirty tactics as campaigning for the 14th general election entered its third day yesterday.
SAPP deputy president Melanie Chia said a video clip taken inside the Maksak Hall during the April 28 nomination day was another example of how certain groups were resorting to smear tactics against the party.
The clip shows the SAPP president protesting against the Election Commission officials allowing amendments in the nomination forms for PKR Api Api candidate Christina Liew at 12.30pm.
Yong had argued that such action was unlawful as it violated the conduct of election laws.
However the clip that went viral on social media came with the caption: Yong Teck Lee and his gang bullying Josephine (Hadhikusumo), the daughter of Christina Liew who was submitting the nomination papers for her mom who was in Tawau for her MP seat.
Melanie who was in the hall as the proposer for SAPP Luyang candidate Gee Tien Siong, said Yong had protested to the Assistant Returning Officer upon seeing the wrongful action.
Melanie said Yong was not attacking Christina's candidacy but merely wanted to see the election laws and regulations being abided with.
In the 2013 elections, SAPP was a victim of slander with allegations that the party was a BN agent and that Yong was the recipient of RM80 million.
The then DAP candidate for Likas, Junz Wong, made a public apology to Yong after the polls for the allegation.
“By that time Junz had won the seat against Yong who had also contested the Likas seat. We want to stop these smear tactics at its tracks now,” Melanie added.