WARISAN president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is not surprised Sabah Star’s departure from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
He said the party had already hinted their potential exit plan since last year.
“They already told me last year, they said they would leave in September. Until now it hasn’t happened, but that’s their right,” Shafie said at Warisan’s headquarters on Thursday.
The former chief minister stressed that his focus was on Sabahans rather than Sabah Star’s manoeuvres, but questioned the timing.
“I don’t want to think about their party or when they want to leave. What matters is uniting the people of Sabah.
"That’s our clear stand, we work with the rakyat,” he said.
Warisan drawing new blood
Shafie said the influx of new party members occurred due to a growing trend of Sabahans disillusioned with the political flip-flops of GRS.
“They are joining us voluntarily. There is no inducement. We never said we will give you millions of ringgit.
"No. We will not promise that. But their careers, their district chiefs, the leaders there — they talk to me. They want to serve,” he said.
The party today accepted some 180 new members and had previously signed up thousands in various districts in Sabah during party programmes.
He argued that many were turning to Warisan because they were frustrated with coalitions that quarreled before elections only to reunite afterwards.
Shafie added that Warisan’s growing base reflected Sabahans’ desires for a leadership that put people’s needs first, not political expediency. - October 2, 2025
