SABAH PKR has stood by its accusation that Warisan had politicised the state’s recent floods, and the Sabah opposition party was also to blame for the state prevailing water woes and the delayed completion of the Pan Borneo Highway.
The party’s state leadership council said Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his allies had turned disasters and infrastructure problems into political attacks.
“Such conduct disrespects the efforts of government agencies, NGOs and community volunteers who have been working day and night to help victims,” it said in a statement issued by the state chapter leadership council.
On Saturday, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud clarified that Shafie’s remarks went beyond flood issues, saying the Warisan leader had politicised the tragedy by launching personal attacks against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the party’s divisional AGM in Kota Belud.
But PKR said this showed that Warisan was attempting to deflect attention from its own past failures.
On the water concession, it also maintained that Shafie’s administration had terminated the deal without a clear transition plan, triggering supply issues that persist to this day.
It said the present Sabah government had been forced to reach an out-of-court settlement to protect the state’s interests.
Sabah chief minister cum Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had initially said the state government had to pay RM315 million in an out-of-court settlement to the concessionaires as a result of cancellation of their contracts during the time Shafie was chief minister.
Turning to the Pan Borneo Highway, PKR recalled that Shafie himself had admitted the cancellation of the project delivery partner model was a political decision, which stalled progress.
The current administration, it said, is working to restart construction and ensure Sabahans benefit from new jobs and infrastructure.
Warisan had earlier rejected the accusation.
Secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua Jr insisted the party had always acted as a “first responder” during floods, while supreme council member Sarifuddin Hata accused PKR of hypocrisy and claimed Shafie was merely voicing public frustrations. - September 22, 2025
