KOTA KINABALU – Warisan accepting defectors from Sabah DAP has ruffled feathers, leading to questions over frayed ties and division in the state opposition bloc.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung said Warisan and its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal must consider their move wisely so as to avoid a divided opposition bloc that eventually benefits Umno, like what had happened in Johor.
“Think and act for the people of Sabah. That’s why we call on Warisan to stay calm and return to the negotiation table,” Poon said in a statement today.
He reiterated that Sabah DAP wants to form a strong and united opposition like the “Avengers” to defeat Umno again, but it is disappointing that Warisan’s action now has been contradictory to the “unity” that the party has been chanting.
“Especially when Shafie openly said that Warisan is open to working with any coalition or parties who win the next general election. Does that mean Warisan will join the Umno-BN government if they win the next GE?”
The relationship between the two opposition parties in Sabah has been tense since Warisan decided not to join Pakatan Harapan (PH) to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government last year.
The situation became worse when Warisan decided to contest alone in six seats in the Johor polls, going against DAP candidates.
Yesterday, Warisan’s vice-president Datuk Junz Wong said Sabahans and Malaysians would have become victims of DAP’s charades and hypocrisy, if not for Warisan’s firm stand.
He added that DAP is a Chinese party and that its only contribution is monopolising all Chinese areas.
Responding to this, Poon urged Wong to stop painting a negative image of the MoU, stressing that it is necessary to eliminate political frogs through the tabling of the anti-hopping bill in Parliament on April 11.
“The MoU is also about restoring stability amid the pandemic. Most importantly, it is an opportunity for the opposition bloc to pressure the federal government to table institutional reforms.
On DAP monopolising Chinese areas, Poon said that such an accusation simply shows that Wong and Warisan are arrogant.
“During the seat negotiations (Sabah election in 2020), DAP was sacrificed by Warisan; the fact that DAP did not get any from the 13 additional seats.
“Warisan on the other hand single-handedly contested 47 seats; it is clear who is monopolising the seats. When the results are not ideal, you shift the blame to your partners?”
Poon added that it is unfair for Warisan to be playing the blame game now, as DAP had not blamed Warisan, such as when DAP’s performance when contesting Bingkor’s seat was better when it was using the DAP logo (2018) than when using Warisan’s logo (2020).
DAP lost by 2% and 30% to Sabah Star in the respective elections.
Poon said Wong should know that PH won a total of 113 seats in the 2018 general election, achieving the simple majority to form the government, but in the spirit of partnership, PH included Warisan reps in the federal cabinet.
He added that the DAP leadership made it clear there is room for cooperation.
“However, what Wong is doing right now (making such a statement) is the opposite (of the possibility to collaborate positively).” – The Vibes, April 1, 2022
