KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah-based national outfit Warisan is set to contest in seven states in the peninsula in this coming general election.
Party president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said this is to offer voters another option other than the usual coterie of federal parties.
While he kept the number of seats Warisan will be contesting close to his chest, Shafie revealed the states as Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Kelantan.
This is in addition to the 25 parliamentary seats the party is contesting in Sabah, as well as Labuan.
“We have to work hard not to be overconfident, and that is why we are working so hard being on the ground.
“Tomorrow, I have numerous functions to attend non-stop until the weekend.
“It has been on the pipeline before even the (dissolution of Parliament) announcement was made,” he said.
Shafie was speaking at the Concorde Club senior editors’ roundtable, hosted by Star Media Group adviser, Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Held at the Concorde Hotel here, the Concorde Club is an initiative of the sultan of Selangor to encourage discourse between journalists and newsmakers to offer insights and perspectives on pressing issues.
Shafie said Warisan will not discriminate between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan targeted constituencies, but he hopes a consensus can be made post-election.
“We need to show how strong and relevant Sabah and Borneo are,” he said.
Acknowledging the approach may not seem pragmatic to observers, Shafie said Warisan hopes that at least in a kingmaker role, pressing issues concerning Sabah and Sarawak, integrity, equality and justice can be better championed.
“Obviously, I can’t say we will win a two-thirds majority. I can't spell it out for now, but we are contesting 25 seats (plus Labuan).
“But the bigger number would be better for me. I do hope that we will get the numbers that we have already projected, but I can’t spell it out now.
“I think what is important is, as I’ve mentioned, we need to work harder,” he said.
On Warisan’s focus on Johor Parliament seats due to an influx of Sabahans in the area, Shafie confirmed that the party is set to contest in Pasir Gudang, and very likely in Tg Piai as well.
“We will contest in at least one parliamentary seat in Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Penang, Johor and Kelantan,” he said, adding that the party will not contest in Terengganu and Pahang.
Shafie also expressed the view that he will not be alienating coalition partners by going after PH constituencies. – The Vibes, October 11, 2022
