Kuala Lumpur: Former chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
(pic) feels the Opposition should have “fresh leadership”, even in East Malaysia.
“Well, I did not say that it should be me. But if Malaysians think that a person coming from Peninsula Malaysia has been presenting themselves as the leader for the last 60 years, why not a Sabahan or Sarawakian for that matter?” Shafie told BFM 89.9.
He said the process involves nation-building, and rhetorically asked why East Malaysians could not provide or render their services to the country.
The Parti Warisan Sabah President has made an effort in recent times to project himself on the national stage, such as by announcing that Warisan wanted to expand throughout Malaysia.
He also burnished his credentials by pointing out his three decades of experience in federal politics and governance.
“I am not alien to the political arena in peninsula Malaysia,” Shafie said.
The Semporna MP’s career prior to founding Warisan in 2016 included posts in Umno’s Youth wing and supreme council.
Shafie had also served as Umno’s vice-president but was later sacked by then-president Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he spoke out against the 1MDB scandal.
He held several Cabinet portfolios from 1999 to 2015, including as deputy housing and local government minister, deputy defence minister, domestic trade and consumerism minister, national unity, arts, culture and heritage minister, and rural and regional development minister.
He also said in the interview that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and its allies could garner support to win the 14th general election in 2018 because they had something to rally the people against the Barisan Nasional government such as corruption, 1MDB, and the Goods and Services Tax.
However, for the 15th general election, Shafie noted that the Opposition has no such common platform when dealing with the Perikatan Nasional government.
He also declined to specify if Warisan will align itself with Parti Pejuang Tanah Air under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as opposed to PH, only saying that Warisan is aligned with all Opposition leaders.
He cited how all 108 Opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat voted against Budget 2021 on Tuesday as proof, but conceded that it did not mean ‘it is good enough for us now”.
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“To win the hearts of Malaysians, we need to have a recipe that we can present for the coming GE15, such as by platforming formidable young leaders.
“I can see there are formidable young leaders within the Opposition who can offer themselves to be the future of the country. Yet, unfortunately, they do not have the opportunity to surface as alternative leaders,” Shafie said.
Meanwhile, Warisan leader has dismissed the notion that the party is causing a riff within Pakatan Harapan (PH), following the call by Shafie, for a change of leadership in the opposition block.
The party’s Wirawati (women youth) chief Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis said Shafie’s statement was a wake-up call for the opposition to strengthen itself by having a more credible leadership.
“As an opposition party that is affiliated to Pakatan Harapan, Warisan is obliged to voice its concern with the overall performance of the opposition block in the country.
“Politics is about perception, and if the voters think that the top leadership of the opposition block lacks credibility, then obviously all of us (in the opposition) will suffer, ” she said.
She said the continuous claim of “formidable and convincing majority” to take over the government since Sept 16, as well as tactics to defeat Budget 2021, had tarnished the credibility of opposition parties.
“This will cause the voters to feel disillusioned, ” she added.
Munirah also said Shafie was only reminding Pakatan friends that as the opposition, “our strongest asset is reputation based on strong credibility” that must be protected.
She said that the opposition chief in Malaysia should not only focus on taking over the government or becoming a Prime Minister, but must strive to unite and create a new Malaysia.
“That leader must be ready to sacrifice time, money and energy by visiting all the states and engaging with the local communities to understand their needs and aspirations.
An opposition chief’s main focus should not be confined merely to becoming the Prime Minister but also to put an end to divisive politics, she added.
“Unfortunately, we no longer see the enthusiasm in our current opposition chief that he once had,” she said.
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