WARISAN president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal wrapped up his Chinese New Year engagements in Tenom on Saturday, capping off the Chap Goh Meh celebrations.
But the crowd size told a different story.
Only 30 banquet tables were set up, seating about 300 people, with approximately 100 more seats on the gallery—far from the gatherings seen at similar events organised in districts like Kota Kinabalu and in the east coast areas.
Party insiders dismissed concerns over declining support, blaming misinformation.
“We found out people thought they had to pay for seats,” a party source told The Vibes.com, alleging political rivals spread the rumours.
Local businessman Tan Wei Ming confirmed hearing the same.
“I was hesitant at first because someone said we had to contribute,” he said.
The event was a test of Warisan’s reach in Melalap’s Chinese community.
Tenom’s 42,000 voters are split between Melalap and Kemabong, with around 5,000 Chinese voters in Melalap alone.
While attendance at party events offers insights, broader festivals like Kaamatan serve as more telling political barometers.
Tenom has a significant Kadazan and Dusun population.
However, the district’s economy is driven by the Chinese business community, which could also influence political alignments.
Warisan’s position in the region has weakened since Datuk Peter Anthony’s departure in 2021.
Once Warisan’s vice-president, Anthony left to form Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) after criticising Warisan’s expansion into Peninsular Malaysia.
A key Warisan figure and former Sabah infrastructure minister, Anthony has since solidified his hold over Melalap.
“Defeating Peter Anthony here is tough,” said Melalap voter Lim Siew Fong. “He has his people, and they’re loyal.”
But Anthony’s future is uncertain.
His 2022 bid for the Tenom parliamentary seat was blocked due to an ongoing corruption case.
Convicted in May 2022 of falsifying documents related to a Universiti Malaysia Sabah contract, he was sentenced to three years in jail and fined RM50,000.
He remains free pending appeal, with the Court of Appeal’s decision expected this year.
The verdict of his final appeal has already been postponed three times, first on Nov 27, 2024, then to Jan 9 and subsequently Feb 7.
If disqualified, Melalap could become a key battleground.
Anthony’s disqualification in 2022 sparked riots outside the nomination centre. He was arrested but released the next day.
Two years on, no one has been charged over the chaos.
Despite corruption allegations against the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government, many Melalap voters remain indifferent.
“Most politicians accept donations—it’s not unusual,” said voter Chen Wei Ling.
Meanwhile, national issues like the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) barely resonate in the district.
“Over 60 years, nothing has changed no matter who’s in charge,” said resident Wong Tze Kin.
For younger voters, economic survival outweighs politics.
Jobs in Tenom are scarce, pushing many to Kota Kinabalu, Peninsular Malaysia, or overseas.
“There’s nothing here for them,” said 68-year-old Lim Ah Kow, whose sons work in Singapore.
“When they come back to vote, who knows where their loyalties lie?”
With Melalap in Anthony’s hands and Kemabong held by GRS’s Datuk Rubin Balang, Warisan faces an uphill battle.
If Anthony is ruled out, the seat is wide open.
If he remains in play, Warisan’s chances of reclaiming Melalap may already be lost. – February 16, 2025
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