KUALA LUMPUR – Ties between Warisan and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have become even more strained following accusations from the Sabah-based party’s president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal that his former allies did not protect the rights of Sabahans while PH was in power.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon said Shafie had made baseless remarks in an attempt to part ways with PH so that Warisan could go solo in the looming 15th general election.
“It is shocking to witness his willingness to stoop so low, to accuse former allies from DAP and Sabah PKR. Shafie’s baseless allegations to gain him cheap publicity are truly a pathetic attempt.
“Warisan has now became a Trojan horse that aims to split votes in the upcoming election, (which will only bring) advantage to Umno and Barisan Nasional,” Poon said in a statement today.
Shafie was reported saying at a meet-the-people event in Sandakan that he had asked state DAP and PKR leaders to take up the matter of Sabah’s rights to national party leaders when PH helmed the federal government after the 2018 general election, but was disappointed when they told him that the state’s demands could not be met.
The Semporna MP also accused DAP of refusing to give way to Warisan to contest in Chinese-majority seats in Sabah during the state election in 2020.
He also chided former DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was finance minister when PH was in federal power, for failing to keep his promises on giving Sabah higher tax revenues and increased oil royalty payments.
Poon, who is Tanjong Papat assemblyman, said Shafie and Warisan should accept some of the blame as the party had also been in the federal and state governments when PH was in Putrajaya.
“The federal and state government both comprised members of Warisan and PH, all achievements and failures are collective, not one party’s.”
Poon also reminded Shafie that he was Sabah chief minister during PH’s government, and should bear part of the blame in failing to get more of the state’s rights to revenue recognised.
“Warisan is also extremely similar to PAS now, playing the ‘semua salah DAP’ (everything is DAP’s fault) card to gain political mileage,” added Poon.
Though former allies, Warisan and DAP’s ties began to weaken after the Sabah-based party began its expansion to Peninsular Malaysia in 2021, while in Sabah, two DAP assemblymen – the Sri Tanjong and Elopura representatives – quit the party to join Warisan. – The Vibes, October 2, 2022
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