[UPDATED] Shafie slams govt for enticing Warisan MPs with positions, money

KOTA KINABALU – It is unbecoming for “Keluarga Malaysia” to coax Warisan into joining the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan but at the same time lure party reps into jumping ship.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal slammed the government in a press conference here today, saying this is against the Keluarga Malaysia spirit that Putrajaya is promoting.

He said while there are efforts to get his party to join the MoU, the government has been offering positions and money to lure Warisan MPs and assemblymen to leave the party.

“It is halal if the opposition members decide to join them, but it is haram when those in the government quit and join the opposition.”

Shafie’s claims came after Warisan’s Sindumin rep Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob quit the party yesterday.

“I heard that Yusof contacted some YBs, offering RM1 million to those who are willing to join GRS. This situation is truly disappointing; it is not healthy. We had fought hard in the party to represent the people in our constituency.

“As far as I am concerned, the other Warisan assemblymen do not have the intention of leaving the party. I know who they are contacting and persuading,” he said, referring to the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition.

Shafie expressed disappointment with the politicking in Sabah, which is also happening in Melaka, and that it is against the Yang di-Petuan Agong’s decree to reduce the political temperature in the country.

He added that he understood that Warisan became a victim of the ill relationship between Bersatu and Umno in the federal level, which drove the respective chapters in Sabah to “collect” more representatives in a race to increase their chances to helm the state government.

However, Shafie said he cannot stop others from luring Warisan members as there is no way to micromanage and control the simmering political turmoil. 

On Yusof leaving the party, Shafie said the Sindumin rep did not inform him of his intention to leave the party, despite having met each other in a series of the party meetings this month. 

“I found out about Yusof quitting in the news after the Dewan session. I then contacted him (Yusof), and he told me he is quitting. He never tendered a resignation letter or told personally before that. 

“This is his personal choice, and I deny claims that I had given him the permission and that I was willing to let him quit. No party president wants his representative to leave the party; it is not true that I allowed him to do so.”

Shafie added that Yusof could not say that he was not valued in Warisan as he was the state education minister before the party lost in the state polls, and he was also Warisan information chief.

He said Warisan will handle Yusof’s case similarly to how it did with Sebatik assemblyman Hassan A. Gani Pg Amir’s case – taking legal action via proper channels. 

“We still have the video (of Yusof’s pledge) and the signing of his pre-resignation letter (taken last September before the Sabah election).”

Hassan quit the party on February 25 and Warisan had taken the video and the pre-resignation letter to the court. The case is ongoing. 

“We are taking this case to court to ensure that Warisan’s fight is not seasonal. We work hard for the rakyat whether we are the government or the opposition,” said Shafie. 

He also said that Yusof’s departure from the party did not have a big impact on Warisan, and he urged Warisan reps to remain calm and not be overly concerned.

“I know Warisan has strong principles, and I am confident that the YBs are still standing with the party.” – The Vibes, October 9, 2021