Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman today warned that appropriate action will be taken against leaders or members of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties who try to "sabotage" other BN parties in the state.

Musa, who is also the Sabah BN chairperson, said the act of hurling slanders or writing "poison-pen letters" among members within the state BN was unhealthy and can weaken the coalition in facing the coming elections.

"Slanders and poison-pen letters are the work of those who are frustrated. This is not BN's way...we are one big family who should assist and respect each other.

"What's important is to work together to strengthen the BN for the elections," he told reporters after opening the 14th Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 14th Congress in Kota Kinabalu today.

No snake in the grass

Musa said this when asked to comment on the keynote address by LDP president Chong Kah Kiat on attempts by certain groups to sabotage the party.

"We hope no BN members or leaders resorted to this dirty act...we do not want any snake in the grass," Bernama quoted Musa as saying..

Chong had earlier claimed that there is a group of desperadoes from outside "who have sworn to destroy him politically and harm as well as weaken the party and its leadership".

He said that part of the group's campaign involved the distribution of poison-pen letters and the community was fully aware of who were behind such dirty campaign.

But the LDP president was confident that the party would not be unduly affected by such dirty tactics.

"The LDP has withstood all sorts of pressures from certain quarters and it has always prevailed" he added.