Attacks on Chief Minister Hajiji stem from jealousy, says Gagasan's Masiung
KOTA KINABALU: The recent political slander and online attacks against Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stem from envy over his achievements, says Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah vice-president Datuk Masiung Banah.
He said the opposition, having failed to deliver when in power, is resorting to fabrications and personal attacks on social media to sway public opinion before the 17th State Election.
"They are clearly jealous of Hajiji's progress and what the GRS government has accomplished in a short time.
This is why they are spreading lies and even hurling insults at our Chief Minister," he said at the Gagasan Rakyat Tri-Annual Meeting in Kampung Saub, a Lundeyah village near Nabawan on Friday (May 23).
Banah said that rather than responding with hostility, Gagasan Rakyat members must focus on strengthening grassroots support and maintaining composure in the face of provocation.
He urged members to avoid retaliating with slander or insults, stressing the importance of respectful political engagement grounded in facts.
"We know our grassroots supporters are affected by the opposition's malicious online campaigns. But we should not stoop to their level," he said.
The Kuamut assemblyman also warned against adopting the opposition's toxic cyber trooper culture, which he said thrives on vilification and false narratives.
"Supporters must not fall into the trap of conflict. We need to counter these attacks by being more strategic, through facts, engagement, and unity at the grassroots," he added.
Banah stressed that true strength lies in growing the party's influence at the community level, not through hostility, but by staying focused on long-term goals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bung should be the last to talk about loyalty, says Joniston
GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the coalition had never been reliant on Sabah Umno. (Japen pic) PETALING JAYA : Gabungan Rakyat Sabah information chief Joniston Bangkuai today hit back at state Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin for saying it was tough to work with GRS due to its past betrayal. Joniston, who is also the Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief, said Bung was the last person who should be talking about loyalty or sincerity. 'It was Bung who conspired with Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat in January 2023 to topple the (state) government led by chief minister Hajiji Noor. 'Bung wasn't betrayed, he was the one betraying (others). 'Even while sitting in the state Cabinet, he had no respect for his colleagues in the state government led by Hajiji,' he said in a statement. He said during the political crisis, several Umno assemblymen refused to support Bung's move and instead backed Hajiji, as did Pakatan Harapan. 'If anyone needs to reflect, it's Bung. 'Why did your colleagues abandon your 'Kinabalu Move'? 'Why did PH support Hajiji instead of you? The answer is obvious: you didn't have their trust,' he said. Joniston said GRS had never been reliant on Umno and reiterated that the coalition was fully prepared to face the upcoming state election independently. Earlier today, Bung said Sabah Umno would not work with GRS in the upcoming state election and that it would only consider working with the party after the state polls. Citing his party's 'dark and bitter' past with GRS, Bung said they needed to practise caution in working with the coalition again. PH and Barisan Nasional have already announced an alliance for the Sabah polls, which must be held by the end of the year. This prompted GRS to threaten to go solo. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's state government while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. However, PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim had expressed confidence that PH, BN and GRS would be able to agree on an alliance for the state election. Last week, the prime minister said discussions among the three coalitions were ongoing. Despite the negotiations, several Sabah BN and GRS leaders have traded barbs over the past few weeks, including Bung and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Bung the last person to talk about loyalty
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has responded to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's latest remarks, labelling them arrogant and disconnected from Sabah's political landscape. "Bung is the last person who should talk about loyalty or sincerity. He tried to bring down the very government he was part of, just to serve his own ambition. That speaks volumes," he said. He rejected Bung's claim that GRS betrayed Barisan Nasional (BN), calling it a clear attempt to distort the facts and shift blame. "It's Bung who conspired with Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM) in January 2023 to topple the government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. "He wasn't betrayed, he was the one doing the betraying. Even while sitting in the state Cabinet,he had no respect for his colleagues in the state government led by Hajiji as Chief Minister." Joniston added that GRS was never reliant on Umno. "If anyone needs to reflect, it's Bung. Why did even your own colleagues abandon your 'Langkah Kinabalu'? Why did PH support Hajiji, not you? The answer is obvious because the trust wasn't with you," he said. "Sabah isn't your political lifeline. Don't treat this state like your fallback plan," he said. Earlier today, Bung had said Sabah Umno will not cooperate with GRS for the 17th state election. He stressed that the party will only consider any form of cooperation with GRS after the election. Bung claimed that the bitter experience of working with GRS in the past has made Sabah Umno more cautious in forming political alliances, especially with the Sabah-based coalition, in orderto avoid being betrayed again. He had earlier announced BN's cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH), even before any formal decision was made by the top leadership of both coalitions. The collaboration was later formalised through a joint statement by leaders from both BN and PH at the federal level.
Borneo Post
10 hours ago
- Borneo Post
GRS to Bung: Don't play victim, we don't need you
Joniston KOTA KINABALU (June 3): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has fired back at Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, calling his latest remarks arrogant and disconnected from Sabah's political reality. 'Bung is the last person who should talk about loyalty or sincerity. He tried to bring down the very government he was part of, just to serve his own ambition. That speaks volumes,' he said. Joniston dismissed Bung's claim that GRS had betrayed Barisan Nasional (BN), describing it as a clear attempt to twist the narrative and deflect from his own actions. 'It's Bung who conspired with Warisan and PKDM in January 2023 to topple the government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'He wasn't betrayed, he was the one doing the betraying. Even while sitting in the State Cabinet, he had no respect for his colleagues in the State government led by Hajiji as Chief Minister.' Joniston stressed that GRS has never been reliant on Umno and is fully prepared to face the upcoming state election independently. As such Bung should stop with his arrogance by insinuating as if GRS is so hard up to work with Umno-BN. He also pointed out that during the political crisis, several Umno assemblymen refused to support Bung's move and instead threw their backing behind Hajiji, alongside PH. 'If anyone needs to reflect, it's Bung. Why did even your own colleagues abandon your 'Langkah Kinabalu'? Why did PH support Hajiji, not you? The answer is obvious because the trust wasn't with you,' he said. Joniston, who is also PBS information chief, reiterated that his party would never forget the insult hurled by Bung when he once labelled PBS as 'melukut di tepi gantang'. 'You showed no respect for PBS or your allies, and now you expect cooperation? Don't be surprised if Sabahans continue to reject Umno just like they did in other states across the Peninsula. 'Sabah isn't your political lifeline. Don't treat this state like your fallback plan,' he said, stressing that GRS is now focused on what matters – unity, stability and delivering for the people.
