KOTA KINABALU: The Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Lamag Division denies the claim that all native community leader positions have been monopolised by the party, sidelining other component parties in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Lamag Gagasan Rakyat Chief Abu Bakar Gapar said that the viral video regarding the allegations on social media is false and was deliberately spread by irresponsible parties aiming to tarnish the reputation of the Gagasan Rakyat party and himself as the Lamag Gagasan Rakyat chief.
“In reality, there is no issue of chaos and injustice in the appointment of grassroots leaders as depicted on social media, including the video circulated by certain parties.
“What happened was a misunderstanding by a chief of a GRS component party during a brief speech before the Handover Ceremony of the Appointment Letters for the Natiive Community Leaders of the Lamag State Constituency on July 4, 2024,” he said in a statement today.
Abu Bakar said that there is a possibility that he lacked information regarding the appointments, leading to the assumption that their party representatives were overlooked.
“Based on the list of appointed village chiefs issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, it was revealed that three individuals from Gagasan Rakyat were appointed, along with several others from other component parties,” he said.
He explained that the Ministry made the appointments based on merit after receiving name recommendations from GRS component parties, following guidelines issued by the government in October 2022.
“The appointed leaders from GRS component parties in the Lamag Division filled 56 percent of the Village Chief positions, compared to the dominant party in terms of members and seniority. Therefore, there is no issue of injustice,” he stated.
