KOTA KINABALU – Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has once again openly admitted his party’s willingness to work with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
Stating that these were among the calls from the party’s grassroots members which is to work with a local Sabah party, Shafie opined that PBS could be a suitable partner.
“Because I know them (PBS leaders), they were my friends, I was in the same school with Max (PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili) and we were in the cabinet together.
“I also know some of its grassroots leaders. So if that (collaboration) is a choice, I told Warisan’s leaders, it will not be a problem if it is PBS,” he said.
Shafie said this at a press conference after the Warisan Kaamatan Open House event in Dewan Kadamaian Square in Kota Belud, yesterday.
At this point, however, Shafie said he is still focused on strengthening Warisan itself, adding that he left it to PBS to decide on the potential collaboration.
In addition to being an ally in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, PBS is also a component party in Sabah’s ruling alliance Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Additionally, Shafie also indicated that Warisan has no interest in joining either PN or GRS, as he opined that “big tents” were not beneficial to the country in any way.
“When someone in the tent disagrees with the rest, another person is going to hit the button, and instability will happen.
“Merge here, merge there, but all these coalitions still won’t resolve our economy.
“I believe that the country needs a drastic change in its leadership for it to move forward, like Indonesia’s President Jokowi who managed to bring Indonesia as a nation with investment attractions throughout Asia,” he said.
Shafie’s latest remarks come after he had previously said that Warisan is interested in working with PBS in May last year.
In response, however, Ongkili then replied that collaboration outside of PN or GRS will be difficult, and invited Warisan to join PN as a member or partner instead. – The Vibes, June 6, 2022.
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