KOTA KINABALU – Former Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony has taken a step back on the launch of his new party, saying it is still undergoing the registration process.
However, it did not stop him from conducting a soft opening for the party in Tenom today.
He revealed that the party is going to be a purely Sabah-based party, friendly to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government and welcoming to Sabahans of all races and religions.
Anthony did not reveal the name of the party, but said it will be officially launched in a week or two.
He announced his departure from Warisan on December 28, saying that the party had gone off track from its original purpose.
During his opening speech, he spoke very little about his new party, but went on to explain the real reasons he left Warisan. At one point, he teared up.
Anthony started crying after he shared his experience of being detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as key witness in a case relating to Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in 2013.
I still remember clearly until today, after 14 days that I was in the lockup. I came home and my children called me, and when I said hello, they cried so hard that they were not able to speak. They heard my voice and just started crying so hard.
“Yet, I was loyal to Warisan,” he said as he broke into tears.
Anthony said that he is actually a very loyal person, but because of several internal conflicts in Warisan, he had decided to leave the party.
He said he was unhappy that he was ranked fourth in the party when he was the one who fought to form the party with Shafie, even before Warisan had a name.
He was also unhappy that there had allegedly been an plan to bring him down from his position in the party by a group of Warisan members, led by Karambunai assemblyman Azhar Matussin.
“However, I could put all of that behind me. I stayed with the party because I stayed with the party’s president (Shafie). But what made me leave the party is that Warisan has gone off track from our original intention when forming the party, which is fighting for the people of Sabah.
“I had no position to speak when I wanted to speak out that I oppose the president’s idea to expand Warisan to West Malaysia. What for? If we win five seats over there while we lose five seats in Sabah, what is the point?”
Anthony said Shafie should have asked the opinion of the Warisan members at the divisional level before proceeding with his plan for the expansion.
“He asked the opinions of the supreme council members. It is the opinions of those in divisions that matter because they are the voters.
Warisan is sending rice and food baskets to people in KL and Penang. How do you think that makes the rural folk in Sabah feel? Let the Penang people take care of Penang people. Let the KL people take care of KL people. We just focus on helping Sabah people.
“How would we feel if parties from Sarawak suddenly came to Tenom and started campaigning? Wouldn’t we reject them? That is how the West Malaysians are going to feel about Warisan.”
Anthony also criticised Warisan for not wanting to work with any other party but Pejuang.
“They go in and out of the village pleading with people to continue supporting them as they are going to be the government soon. How are they going to form a government if they are not good with Bersatu, DAP, PKR, Umno? They only want Pejuang. How many people do they think they have?” he said.
Anthony reiterated that he is innocent in his ongoing court case.
In July 2020, Anthony was charged as the managing director of Asli Jati Engineering Sdn Bhd for falsifying a document.
The document was in regards to a purported collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah to fund and set up a mechanical and engineering technical training centre via direct negotiation in July 2014.
“I strongly deny that I left Warisan because of this court case. Everyone knows this is a ‘no-case’. I am not related to this case and I am going to prove to everyone that this is a ‘no-case’ soon,” he said.
He also said that he did not join politics because of money, as he had to let go of his internationally recognised company and sell his house and land in order to help strengthen Warisan when it was just formed.
Anthony hopes people still have confidence in his leadership and said that anyone is free to voice their suggestions and recommendations to improve his new party.
“I also pray that all the fighting would stop. There are no permanent enemies in politics. Who knows, Warisan may one day open its heart to join GRS so we can develop the state together,” he added. – The Vibes, January 28, 2022
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