Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal hinted that he is open to a political collaboration with the ruling State GRS coalition for the sake of presenting an all Sabah front.
However, the former Chief Minister said so far the response from the ruling State coalition has not been encouraging.
He quashed rumours that negotiations are being held on the quiet with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government ahead of the Sabah elections due later this year.
Asked if the suggestion was the way forward for local parties in Sabah, just like in Sarawak, he said he has been foaming at the mouth talking about it.
“What response do I get coming from them? They said ‘no, we don’t want to work with Warisan’. It’s up to them. But when I say let’s unite, don’t be united for the sake of just greed, power or positions.
“We have to be united as Sabahans to resolve the problems we are facing now,” he said, when met at the party’s Christmas event held at Monstera Hall, Kepayan, Saturday.
“And now more than ever we need to unite because we are too slow and far behind,” he said.
On the elections, he said, Parti Warisan is no newcomer, is confident and prepared.
“We will do whatever it is to change and make sure Sabah is on the right track,” he said, adding that there were recent additions to the party, namely in Kawang and Sandakan.
“What is important is not only their entry but the journey we can take. Let us not only say unity as a slogan but work for it at grassroots. It is how we educate them on the problems faced by the people of Sabah like water, electricity, education and health,” he said.
He said the Christmas celebrations were to ensure the continuity of respect among religions and culture in Sabah as were the intentions of the founding fathers.
Shafie said it would be difficult to realise Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) if Sabahans are not united.
He said Sabah has the most number of parties in the country, which is an indication of division instead of unity.
Shafie also questioned the sincerity of those who claim they are fighting for Sabah’s interests but appeared to be intent on dividing the people.
He also said Sabah does not need the divisive rhetoric from peninsula-based parties, and it was not wise to expect these parties to do better for Sabah.
“We let Sabahans do better for ourselves,” he said.
