Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has come under fire in the local media for using a Tadau Ka'amatan visit in recent days to drum up support for Barisan Nasional at the expense of the goodwill generated for the harvest festival.

"His allegation that some people were sowing discord in Sabah and Sarawak and that this needs to be thwarted came at a bad time," said PKR deputy state chief Daniel John Jambun.

"He knew that we were in the festive month of Ka'amatan and yet he chose to come here and make such an ignorant remark. The people and all leaders, both from the government and  opposition were celebrating the season together in the spirit of joy, peace and togetherness.

"It was not an appropriate time to start throwing accusations. He can be accused of the very same thing when he uses words like 'sowing discord' and other terms like disharmony, disunity and making trouble," he added in a statement.