WARISAN president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said Sabah’s biggest political crisis stems from coalition politics, not entirely due to federal neglect.
He said large alliances have become platforms for political blackmail, power deals, and personal ambition.
“Don’t blame everything on Kuala Lumpur… we Sabahans are also to blame. All these coalitions here and there… it’s driven by political lust,” he said in his address in Tungku, Lahad Datu.
Warisan has already announced plans to contest the next state election solo to avoid horse-trading and loyalty-for-posts arrangements.
“If we work with others, many political leaders start demanding positions — ministerial posts, projects.”
“They say, ‘Datuk Seri, I want to be finance minister. If you don’t give, I jump. ‘Datuk Seri, I want projects. If I don’t get them, I jump.’
“The most jumping happens in Sabah. I don’t want to talk about who jumped. You saw it with your own eyes,” he said.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah now has eight component parties while Pakatan Harapan has four and Barisan Nasional also has about four parties.
He also criticised the rise of new parties like Parti Impian Sabah.
“We keep seeing new parties being formed — like Parti Impian Sabah and others — what are they really for?”
“It’s not about helping the people anymore. It’s about positioning, bargaining, and trying to get a seat.”
Shafie warned that this political fragmentation has existed in Sabah for decades, but jobs, infrastructure and local economic developments remain a problem despite having many political parties said to be representing the people.
“Our youths are looking for work not just in the Peninsula — some have even died in Korea,” he said.
Shafie said Sabah must invest in itself, not wait for Putrajaya or foreign money.
“Don’t wait for their money. We’ll use our own money from Sabah. Don’t take money from China. If not, they’ll tie our necks,” he said, while noting he was not anti-China but referred to the state to being more reliant.
He criticised failed industrial projects under past administrations and promised to revive local downstream industries.
“In Tawau, I wanted to build a cooking oil plant. Didn’t happen. In Keningau, Onsoi — didn’t happen. In Sandakan — didn’t happen.”
“In KL, they can make candy. Why can’t we make candy in Sabah? What, don’t we have brains?”
“Why don’t we have energy? We have oil. We can plant ginger. We can plant pineapple. We can do a lot,” he said.
He cited Warisan’s past record, including issuing 2,800 land grants in areas like Tambunan and Keningau.
“I changed the land law. This land cannot be sold. It’s for your children and grandchildren.”
He also defended Warisan’s slogan, “Sabah for Sabahans.”
“When I say, ‘Sabah for Sabahans,’ it doesn’t mean I’m putting down people from the Peninsula. I love people from the Peninsula. I have grandchildren from Kelantan.”
“Johor wants to unite the voice of Johor. Kelantan wants to unite the voice of Kelantan. Sarawak wants to unite the voice of Sarawak. If they can, why can’t we in Sabah?”
“Don’t fight over slogans. We want to solve the people’s problems. You’re the government now. Why are we still fighting over slogans?” - May 24, 2025
