Abdullah Saidol, assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Department in charge of corporate affairs and UKAS, described the claim by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen as “vexatious and absolutely unfounded”.

At the Sarawak DAP’s 19th annual convention in Miri last weekend, Chong had accused GPS of wasting the people’s money by setting up UKAS to spread propaganda.

“This includes the spreading of fake news and hate speeches by GPS leaders, thus instigating regional sentiment among the people.

“GPS has become a manufacturer of fake news,” he said.

Abdullah said UKAS was set up to disseminate facts about the state government’s initiatives.

He said the unit shared the developments initiated and delivered by the GPS state government with the people.

“I challenge Chong to show a single item that has been produced by UKAS that he construed as fake news.

“Such an attack against a civil service department is unethical and politically wicked,” he said.

Abdullah said it was the Pakatan Harapan government that had been using federal government agencies for its own benefit.

“The PH government is using these agencies not for the benefit of Sarawakians but to run down the elected GPS government and ensure that it captures the state in the next election,” he said.

He accused federal agencies such as the Information Department and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) of being controlled by PH ministers and “blacking out” news of initiatives and developments carried out by the state government.

“Chong is not happy about GPS being able to deliver the goods while the PH government has yet to fulfil its election promises,” he said.