SANDAKAN: Independent candidate Hamzah Abdullah has lodged a police report against Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar for allegedly defaming him over allegations of party-hopping.
Hamzah, who is former state Amanah chairman, said the Pokok Sena member of parliament’s accusations that he liked to party hop and had joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Sabah were not true.
“This is defamation. I’ve never joined Bersatu as alleged by Mahfuz. (The statement) tarnishes my name and my campaign in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election,” he told the New Straits Times.
It was reported earlier that Mahfuz had said he was not surprised when Hamzah quit Amanah to contest in the by-election as an independent and described the action as Hamzah’s “hobby”.
Mahfuz was quoted as saying that Hamzah was a Pas member then became a Bersatu member before joining Amanah.
Hamzah also lodged a police report to explain the presence of a number of supporters who were wearing Amanah logo T-shirts during his campaigning effort at Pasar Kim Fung.
“During the flyer distribution, there were supporters wearing Amanah T-shirts joining me.
“I never forced them to join, but they voluntarily assisted me.
“I can’t prevent them from helping me because that’s their right,” he said in his report.
State Amanah Youth chief Khairuddin Daud had lodged a police report over the matter. In a press conference, he said he regretted that Hamzah was using Amanah members during his campaign.
In the Sandakan by-election, Hamzah will go against DAP’s Vivian Wong Shir Yee, PBS’s Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lind, and two other independent hopefuls.