KOTA KINABALU – Will Parti Warisan Sabah join Umno and Pakatan Harapan’s onslaught against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s emergency declaration, and work together to end his reign?
Or, will its president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, instead help the prime minister consolidate power?
These are the questions being asked among Warisan members, following Muhyiddin’s loss of a parliamentary majority yesterday, when Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz of Umno withdrew his support for the embattled leader.
Warisan’s eight parliamentary seats can do serious damage to Muhyiddin’s standing, as he holds, at most, only 109 of 220 seats.
Two seats are vacant due to the deaths of lawmakers Datuk Liew Vui Keong of Warisan (Batu Sapi) and Datuk Hasbullah Osman of Umno (Gerik).
Shafie’s return here on Monday has fuelled speculation and excitement, with Warisan members being told to be on “standby”.
A member from Sepanggar, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was told by Youth chief Datuk Azis Jamman to be on “standby” and instructed to ensure work to strengthen the party’s machinery goes on.
“All Warisan reps are told not to go anywhere because something big is going to happen this week,” he said, indicating that such was Shafie’s message on Monday.
Vice-president Datuk Junz Wong posted on Facebook: “Our leader, Shafie Apdal, has returned. We may have some good news regarding the current political crisis. Stay tuned!”
He told The Vibes to “be patient and wait for a bit” when asked about Shafie’s return.
Secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua Jr, meanwhile, took to Facebook to say: “Boss saya bilang saya punya cuti sudah mau habis (My boss says my holidays are almost over).”
A senior Warisan MP said party leaders were approached last month, during the Dewan Rakyat sitting, by a Bersatu politician to join Perikatan Nasional.
“But the boss (Shafie) refused. The refusal was done because Bersatu does not want to join forces with DAP.
“Shafie told them he cannot betray DAP, as DAP has been with Warisan since before the 2018 general election, and even after losing the state election (on September 26 last year). He does not want to abandon loyal friends for the sake of power and position.”
A Warisan political aide said if there was a possibility that the party wanted to work with PN, it would be too late as emergency rule has been declared.
“It is no longer a numbers game. But Shafie will never work with PN.” – The Vibes, January 13, 2021
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