KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad played no part in Warisan’s decision to expand to Peninsular Malaysia, said the Sabah-based party’s secretary-general, Datuk Loretto Padua Jr.
“The decision to expand the party to (the peninsula) was made by the party alone, and it was certainly not influenced by Dr Mahathir or any other individual,” he said in a statement yesterday evening.
“The concepts of ‘unity’ and ‘building a nation, not a particular race or religion’, which form the foundation of Warisan, have captured the imagination of many Malaysians, especially those who are tired of racial and religious polemics.”
Hence, he said, Malaysians who believe in “dignified politics, credibility, tolerance and coexistence” can view Warisan as an alternative party congruent with these ideals.
“If political parties such as Umno, Bersatu, PAS, PKR or DAP can become national political parties and expand to Sabah, then why can’t Warisan do the same and offer its ideals and concepts to Malaysians in the peninsula?” said Loretto.
He was responding to an analyst’s claim that the party’s plan to expand to Peninsular Malaysia is a way for Dr Mahathir to gain a political platform if he fails to register his new political outfit, Pejuang.
Loretto said there should be no problem for Malaysians in the peninsula to accept and support Warisan as the party advocates unity in a multiracial society, of which Sabah is a good example.
“As a party that is modelled on Sabah’s multiracial tolerance and harmony, Warisan is an effective agent to promote these ideals in the country. We built this nation together.
“It doesn’t make sense at all to restrict Warisan to being a state-level party.
“This totally contradicts the spirit of Sabah as an equal partner within the Federation of Malaysia, as agreed upon by our founding fathers, in which Sabah also has a role in determining the direction of the country.” – The Vibes, December 15, 2020
