A graphic created by SK Nanga Lidong shows a photograph of Rayong and Pasang together on May 4.
KUCHING: Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa rubbished claims that he is supporting the Opposition in Lubok Antu, saying he is going around campaigning for the Barisan Nasional (BN) Lubok Antu candidate Robert Pasang Alam.
Pasang replaced incumbent MP Datuk William Nyallau Badak as a candidate after the latter was dropped by BN.
Rayong said he has been going around in Lubok Antu urging people to ensure a BN victory in the coming May 9 parliamentary election.
“I am now in Lubok Antu campaigning for Robert Pasang and BN. Claims that I am supporting PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) candidate Nicholas Bawin Anggat are just wild and baseless assumptions.
“I neither support the opposition PKR (candidate) Nicholas Bawin nor plant the independent candidate Jugah Muyang. I urge the people to support BN,” he told The Borneo Post.
He made the clarification to refute claims by several quarters that he is rooting for Bawin, who is his relative.
Pasang – a Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) nominee – is set to face Bawin and Jugah Muyang, who is former PRS Engkilili branch leader.
Rayong also disclosed that he has lodged a police report against a local news portal for issuing fake news and disparaging his image as an honourable state lawmaker by alleging that he had undermined the BN chance of victory by supporting the Opposition.
He said he hoped the police will probe the news portal under the Anti-Fake News Act.