RM80MIL BRIBE, ANOTHER REPORT LODGES

RUMOURS.... SAPP women’s wing chief Melanie Chia claims that although the election is over, the rumours have not stopped and was getting serious.

By : QUEVILLE TO

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has lodged a police report over rumours in the social media that it was working with the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election.

A senior party leader said pre-election allegations that its president Yong Teck Lee had received RM80 million from the ruling coalition to split the opposition vote in order to favour the BN had ruined its chances in the elections held on May 5.

SAPP was wiped out in the polls.

Its women’s wing chief Melanie Chia said she was compelled to lodge the report because although the election is over, the rumours had not stopped and was getting serious.

“There were so much lies spread during this election and some of the lies stayed,” she told reporters after lodging the police report at Karamunsing police station and with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“I respect the wishes of the voters in the recently concluded GE13. However, some of the tactics used by our opponents before and during the election compelled me to lodge a report with the police as well as the MCMC.

“The allegation also stated that I was given RM5 million and was the only one in the party who had benefited.

“The money was allegedly given for SAPP to split the votes in the GE13,” explained the former Luyang assemblywoman.

Chia said the allegations had discredited Yong and the party as could be seen by the election results.

She singled out her opponent, the newly elected Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu from DAP as among those heard making the allegation against Yong in coffee shops in Foh Sang.

Don’t forward rumours

Chia urged the MACC to seriously look into the allegation since it implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who is the chairman of the BN of corrupt practices.

“It is nine days after the election … it should be all over. All these talks should have stopped and we should start anew with whatever is our responsibility to society,” she said.

She also warned the public who are forwarding the rumours via SMSes and the social network to be aware of the serious consequences of their actions.

“I believe that not many of the people are aware of the consequences of their action so I urge them, please be very careful about what you are forwarding via SMS or social network,” Chia said.