Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan made its first candidate announcement for the 15th general election, naming Datuk Adnan Puteh for the Sipitang federal constituency.
Warisan President Datuk Shafie Apdal confirmed that the Sipitang warisan treasurer would contest the spot.
“He is a senior lawyer. It was not easy to convince him to contest. I told him I needed a strong voice in Parliament to fight for our Sabah rights,” said Shafie when attending a Warisan event in the west coast district here.
The incumbent in Sipitang was Datuk Yamani Hafez Musa, a former deputy finance minister who had won the seat on a Barisan Nasional ticket before subsequently defecting to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia after GE14.
Yamani, a first-term MP, won with a majority of 852 votes in the 2018 general election.
It is unclear whether Yamani, the son of former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, will defend the seat.
Parliament was dissolved on Monday and the Election Commission has set October 20 to announce the key dates for GE15.
Shafie believes Sabah and Sarawak would be the kingmakers due to the number of seats in the two states.
Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats while Sarawak has 31.
Shafie said they would be able to determine which coalition formed the next government.
“It is time to change the country’s political landscape.
“If the two states act wisely, Sabah and Sarawak will no longer be controlled by a party from Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
The former Chief Minister and federal minister said by being a kingmaker, it would not only benefit Sabah’s interest but it would be beneficial for the country.
“We want a stable administration.”
Shafie was responding to Sarawak United People’s Party President Dr Sim Kui Hian, who predicted that Sabah and Sarawak would determine who would take over Putrajaya.
Sim said whoever wished to form the next government would need the backing of the two states.
On a separate matter, Shafie reiterated that his party would go solo in the impending polls, unless PBS decided to join forces with them.
“Prior to this, I said that we wanted only PBS for the KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut) seats.”
Shafie said Warisan would contest in all 25 parliamentary seats in the state and also the Labuan seat.
