KOTA KINABALU: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah has accused its opponents of using smear tactics to taint the good name of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) over social media allegations of abuse of power in land deals with a Sarawak businessman.

Gagasan Rakyat information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said the allegations made in the "Edisi Panas Sabah" Facebook page were all baseless.

"Claims on the page are filled with fabrications.

"A check with the state Land and Survey Department shows... no land titles were issued for the applications mentioned in the Facebook page," he said in a statement on Monday (Oct 9).

Nizam also pointed out that the images used in the postings tried to arouse suspicion by implying that the businessman concerned had a close relationship with Hajiji.

"But the (same) businessman was also seen previously (in other social media posts) to be close to former chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (the Parti Warisan president)," Nizam said.

He said those behind the post had been unable to fault the state government's success in attracting high-impact investors to Sabah.

"So (they are) using dirty and disgusting tactics to damage the image of the Chief Minister," Nizam said.

He added that a police report would be lodged soon so that those responsible for spreading the lies could be investigated.

Since the widely-shared Facebook post emerged, Sabah Umno election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed said Hajiji should explain the silica mining project at Pulau Balambangan in Kudat involving 968ha of land owned by Yayasan Sabah.

In a statement on Monday, Warisan Information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said it was important for Hajiji to clear the air and respond to the claims.

"This is a matter of public interest and concerns the people of Sabah. We must safeguard integrity and protect the interests of Sabahans," he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/09/land-deal-claims-on-social-media-aimed-at-smearing-hajiji039s-name-says-gagasan-rakyat