SANDAKAN – Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin quitting Bersatu for another party is another example why a political coalition does not work in securing national stability, said Sabah opposition chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Shafie, who is also Warisan chief, said Malaysia does not need political coalitions, just like the United States and the United Kingdom do not have parties forming coalitions for elections.
“Malaysia does not need coalitions. Join here and there, jump here and there. The parties in these coalitions are fighting among one another, trust me,” he said during an event with Libaran voters in Kg Tinusa 1 here today.
Last Thursday, Zuraida announced her resignation as plantation industries and commodities minister and quit Bersatu to join fledgling Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
“Zuraida quit her position in Bersatu and joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia. As if Bersatu is not ‘bersatu’ (united) enough, she joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia; is it supposed to be more united than Bersatu?
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu president) then said that Zuraida’s seat (in Ampang) is Bersatu’s. They are now fighting over a seat. Where will this country end up going with such instability?” said Shafie.
As for Sabah, he said, there is no point for Warisan to be forming a pact with Pakatan Harapan when it only leaves the Sabah-based party with several seats.
“Sabah needs to be strong. We already have the disadvantage of having fewer (parliamentary) seats than the peninsula – it has (a total of) 168 seats, while Sabah has 25 seats.
“With 25 seats, we still have to share? DAP wants three, PKR wants seven, Upko wants seven, Amanah wants one, Muda wants one, and Warisan is left with six? What voice will we have (in Parliament)?”
Shafie said Sabahans should cast their ballots based on a party’s leadership, values, principles, and vision, not based on coalitions.
“When are we going to learn? Don’t vote for coalitions.
“Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (Usno president), Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili (Parti Bersatu Sabah president) and Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah STAR president) all fought with one another. How can we put our hopes and trust in this kind of coalition?” – The Vibes, May 29, 2022
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