SAPP offering RM5,000 reward for info on video clip

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KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is offering a RM5,000 reward for information about those responsible for a doctored video clip containing foul language used to describe party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

Yong said yesterday the reward was for anyone who could provide information about the identities of those who doctored the video clip.

He said on Monday that SAPP had placed advertisements in a few local newspapers here, including the Tawau local newspaper Morning Post, to inform the public about the reward.

The Morning Post is included because initial investigations revealed that the early WhatsApp messages containing the smear video originated in Tawau.

Those with any information about the culprits may contact a special number – 011 2567 3159.

“We are determined to get to the bottom this and identify the culprits,” Yong said on Monday.

He said based on the doctored recording, they had obtained the digital print of the voice in the video clip.

“We now have the voice of the culprit. Now we want the face,” said Yong.

“We believe it is only a matter of time before we are able to track down the culprits involved,” he added.

“We want to send a strong message that we will not tolerate smear tactics that have been imported into Sabah,” he said, adding that these had begun with the entry of Malaya parties into the state.

“This is a rot that is seeping into our political culture that has to be stamped out by identifying the culprits,” he said.

Yong said he felt encouraged when local community leaders, including Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents chairman Datuk Winston Liaw had condemned such smear tactics.

Also condemning the smear campaign was United Sabah Chinese Community of Kota Kinabalu secretary general Datuk Wong Yit Ming.

“The fact that community leaders voiced their worry over such smearing campaigns indicate these tactics could worsen and undermine the harmony and unity among Sabah’s diverse communities.

“And anyone can become victims of such tactics if these smear campaigns are tolerated,” he said.

Yong had lodged a police report on Wednesday after a 16-second clip of him speaking at a SAPP event but dubbed with the voice describing him using foul language, went viral over social media a day earlier.

He had urged police to investigate the case thoroughly as it was similar to the smear campaign against him in the 2013 General Election.

On Friday, SAPP released a one-minute and 37-second video clip showing the original video along with portions of the doctored clip.

Yong said the move was to show to the public the actual contents of the original video clip following numerous requests.

He said the move was also to show that SAPP was determined to counter such smear campaigns head on.

“Our weapon of choice has always been the truth,” Yong had said.