KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has denied allegations on social media that it is linked to an alleged Sabah drug kingpin arrested by police earlier this week.
Its secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua said the "wild" allegations were being played up by political opponents to defame the party.
"Warisan regrets that there are still a few irresponsible parties trying to link the case to Warisan spread through WhatsApp, (claiming) that Warisan is said to be getting funds from the (drug syndicate's) activity.
"As a warning, Warisan vehemently denies the wild accusations and considers it extreme political slander aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the party and its leaders," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 27).
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Loretto said the party will not hesitate to take legal action against those who continue to repeat the allegations or try to implicate Warisan in any illegal activity or organisation that breaks the law.
He also welcomed the police success in busting the drug trafficking syndicate in Sabah that was announced recently by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
"Warisan believes that those suspected (of involvement) must be investigated. Let the court judge them according to the law," he added.
The NGO founder with the title of "Datuk" is believed to be the leader of the syndicate which has been operating out of Sabah for over eight years.
Ayob Khan had said the mastermind and the rest of the suspects were detained by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) and Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in a special operation in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Semporna at about 2.30am on Christmas day (Monday, Dec 25).
"He is also a businessman who channelled proceeds from drug trafficking into various businesses to launder the money.
"He was previously detained under Section 3(1) of the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985," he told a press conference in Bukit Aman on Tuesday (Dec 26).
