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KOTA KINABALU – After being branded by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) as a “PTI” (undocumented migrants) party, Warisan launched a mission to win Kadazandusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) seats in Sabah today.
More than 1,000 supporters showed up at a Warisan election machinery launch in Tenom, and some 500 people in Keningau today, where party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal told the crowds that the party is made up of genuine Sabahans.
He said while Warisan has support in Chinese-majority and Sabah east coast seats, the party lacks support in interior districts where the KDMR population is the majority.
Shafie added that it is why he wanted to collaborate with PBS before – to secure a majority victory for two parties.
“Max, even if you don’t want to work with Warisan, don’t call us PTI. We are Sabahans. Don’t insult Warisan like that,” he said, referring to PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili in his speech in Keningau.
Last Saturday, Ongkili said at a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) event in Tenom that PBS was not ready to work with Warisan as many of its members were irregular migrants.
“The reason is that (among) their grassroots, many are PTI,” Ongkili said.
Shafie questioned Ongkili’s decision not to work with Warisan, saying that Ongkili would rather work with peninsula-based parties than with him, Ongkili’s former classmate.
After Ongkili’s rejection, Shafie has changed his tune, telling people not to vote for local Sabah parties that are in national coalitions, which include PBS, Sabah Star, SAPP, and Upko, as these parties are unable to make demands for Sabah.
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“PBS and Sabah STAR could not even fight for more seats (in the GRS-BN pact). Upko also could not get more seats (in Pakatan Harapan) and they want to fight for Sabah?” he said, adding that Warisan will have the power to make decisions for Sabah if it wins at least 10 seats.
Meanwhile, Shafie asked the people not to vote for Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), which was formed by former Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, saying that KDM is only being used by GRS-BN to split Warisan’s votes.
“KDM is GRS-friendly, but is also clashing seats with GRS and Barisan Nasional (BN), why? Because they are being used to split votes.”
At a press conference later, Shafie confirmed that Warisan will announce its candidates contesting in peninsula seats on November 1, and Sabah and Labuan seats on November 3.
Warisan has named eight of its candidates so far, including Datuk Jilid Kuminding @ Zainuddin (Kota Marudu), Abdul Rashid Abdul Harun (Kudat), Datuk Adnan Puteh (Sipitang), Dr Daud Yusof (Kimanis), Ahmad Hassan (Papar), Datuk Darell Leiking (Penampang), Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar), and Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud). – The Vibes, October 28, 2022
