Prove Warisan is genuine, Shafie told
Published on: Thursday, February 23, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP has challenged former Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to convince Sabahans that his newly-formed Parti Warisan is a genuine opposition party.Its advisor and Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Jimmy Wong said it is strange for Shafie and his supporters to have so far refused to have anything to do with fellow Sabah and peninsula-based opposition parties but yet claim that it wants to save Sabah.Parti Warisan had declared that it hoped to topple the present Barisan Nasional State Government in the coming State polls believed would be held anytime this year.ADVERTISEMENT Shafie had also said that his scepticism of Sabah-based opposition leaders is because some of them may hop over to the Barisan Nasional and so can't be trusted.Other opposition leaders like Parti Harapan Rakyat's Datuk Lajim Ukin have also spoken against Shafie's stand."I suspect Shafie is just pretending to be an opposition leader based on his actions."If his claim of being an opposition leader is true then why is it that Parti Warisan refuses to work with the other opposition parties in the country?" Jimmy asked.ADVERTISEMENT He said Warisan can never hope to topple the present Barisan Nasional government without the help of Pakatan Harapan and other opposition parties. "That will also mean that his dream to become Sabah Chief Minister will be far from reality.
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"I personally know Shafie since 30 years ago and pretending to be an opposition leader, if my perception is correct, will lead him nowhere after the state polls."It is better for him to turn his words into action now before it is too late."Jimmy said Shafie should follow the footsteps of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who joined other opposition leaders in the country to prove that he is now truly with the opposition.Jimmy said it is also important for Shafie to convince the people of Sabah that he is not linked to any of the recent corruption allegations involving his former Rural and Regional Development Ministry."We in the opposition want leaders in the next administration who are not tainted," Jimmy said.He admitted that Shafie could be a major contributing factor in the downfall of BN in the State elections considering that he once held a very sensitive position in the BN government and Umno."Shafie knows the strengths and weaknesses of Barisan Nasional just like Dr Mahathir," he said.Meanwhile, Jimmy also said its coalition partners should not feel offended if it (DAP) wants to contest certain seats in the coming election."Let's be united and go down to the grassroots to ensure an overwhelming victory for the opposition candidates in the coming State polls, instead of complaining," he said.He was responding to PKR Pensiangan Branch Chief cum Ketua AMK Sabah Raymond Ahuar who said Sabah DAP's recent public announcement of intention to contest in seven State and another three parliamentary seats in the interior was inappropriate. "Don't get angry...the State and Parliamentary seats mentioned by Sabah DAP are just proposals and yet to be decided and finalised by our top opposition leaders in Sabah," he said.Party Sabah Secretary Chan Foong Hin, in a function in Keningau, last week, said DAP Sabah would contest in Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan, and the State seats under these parliamentary seats."From only one state seat contested in last election, which was Melalap, now DAP has confidence to deliver the Interior seats for Pakatan Harapan," he said.Chan said DAP would not claim for those seats without proven work record.He said DAP's proposal should be taken as a wake-up call or reminder to our comrades in the opposition to nominate only qualified and winnable candidates.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Raymond, in a statement released to the press on Tuesday, said it is inappropriate for DAP to make such announcement as a partner in the opposition camp.He felt the matter should have been discussed among parties in Pakatan Harapan internally. - Nikko Fabian