KOTA KINABALU: A senior leader of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has slammed the Opposition for what he describes as using dirty tactics to undermine the GRS-Pakatan Harapan state government.

       Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who was GRS information chief, claimed that the Opposition was now resorting to "spreading lies and slander" in a move to divert public attention away from the state government’s efforts to tackle Sabah’s ongoing issues.

       These alleged actions, he said, potentially had the ulterior motive of influencing an early state election.

       "It is regrettable that while the GRS-Pakatan state government is working hard to address the many long-standing problems in Sabah such as water, electricity and roads, the Opposition appears to be more interested in hoodwinking the people," he said in a statement here on Tuesday (Jan 16).

       He stressed that attempts to tarnish Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's image were clearly an intention of the Opposition to hamper the government's efforts to foster development.

       Bangkuai cited as a "notable instance" the linking of a member of Hajiji's family to a drug cartel, allegedly by opposition cyber troopers.

       "The state government remains committed to transparency and progress, and we call on the opposition to engage in fair and truthful discourse for the greater good of Sabah," said the Kiulu assemblyman.

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       On Sunday (Jan 14), Hajiji's son Mohammad Reza lodged a report at the Tuaran district police headquarters to deny any involvement in any drug cartel.

       Police said an investigation was under way.

       Calling it a smear campaign against Hajiji, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan on Monday (Jan 15) said it could have been masterminded by a political party that was involved in trying to topple the GRS state government.

       He also said GRS wanted action to be taken against the "culprits" behind the campaign.

       Hajiji is GRS chairman and Gagasan Rakyat president.

       The drug syndicate, said to be headed by a "Datuk Seri" kingpin and patron of a little-known NGO, was recently busted by the police.

       State opposition party Parti Warisan was also linked to the cartel through social media posts.

       Warisan party officials dismissed the claims as "wild and baseless" and lodged several police reports over them.