PAPAR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has welcomed the suggestion for Warisan to join the ruling federal coalition.
He said he has no issue with Warisan being part of PN, which is also part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance in power in Sabah.
In fact, the state deputy chief minister and Sabah Star president said he is open to all Sabah opposition parties joining PN.
“I don’t see any problem (about Warisan joining PN). I think the more united Sabah is, the better,” he said.
“We should invite everybody (opposition parties), especially Warisan as they have elected representatives.
“They want to address the issues faced in their constituencies. Therefore, why don’t we work together?” he said during a visit to a vanilla farm here today.
The move would also strengthen PN’s fragile position in power at the federal level as Warisan’s seven MPs can beef up its slim majority in Parliament.
Also present were Sabah Star secretary-general Datuk Guandee Kohoi and PBS vice-president Datuk Johnny Mositun.
Kitingan said GRS is also open to the idea of Warisan joining either PN or GRS as a member of the state alliance by itself, adding that Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who leads GRS, is open to such a move.
“We have actually discussed this among our GRS colleagues and we are open to bringing Warisan in the fold. The chief minister is also open to the idea,” he said.
Yesterday, PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili invited Warisan to cooperate with PN either as a member or partner.
He also expressed PBS’ willingness to sponsor or host Warisan to join the coalition.
Ongkili stressed that although the idea of Warisan-PBS cooperation may seem difficult due to their different ideologies, they can work together on national goals.
The state political scene was shaken recently when Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal expressed his interest to work with PBS, and Ongkili gave a positive response to the suggestion.
Many think such a political alliance is possible and would pave the way for a power shift in Sabah and national politics. – The Vibes, May 21, 2021
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