Kota Kinabalu: Warisan will work closely with the people of Sabah, placing local issues at the forefront ahead of the coming State Election (PRN17), said President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said the main focus is on tackling key challenges affecting Sabahans — specifically, clean water access, electricity supply and better road infrastructure.
Shafie said if the coalition were more focused on forming political alliances, critical issues would likely be sidelined in the pursuit of seats.
“When parties come together, the goal often becomes about securing ministerial posts and project allocations. But when we (Warisan) engage directly with the people, we hear their real concerns — like inadequate water supply — and we act on them immediately,” he said at a press conference at the Warisan Headquarters, Wednesday.
Shafie also said Sabahans continue to face pressing problems such as limited job opportunities, insufficient schools, under-resourced healthcare services and poor road conditions.
Addressing these concerns, he said, it is central to Warisan’s agenda as they prepare to strengthen ties with the people in the lead-up to the election.
As for the party’s candidates, Shafie said Warisan will select individuals from established constituencies with a strong potential to win, ensuring continuity and effective representation.
“We must be mindful of past experiences and avoid party-hopping. This will guide our selection process — we don’t want to win seats only for the people to later struggle to reach their elected representatives,” he said.
Shafie also voiced optimism about Warisan’s chances of winning seats along Sabah’s West Coast, citing the current wave of public support.
“Warisan previously had elected representatives in areas like Sindumin, Sipitang, Banggi and Tanjung Kapor, Kudat,” he said. When asked about youth representation, Shafie said while youth involvement is important, what matters most is having leaders who are committed to serving the people regardless of race.
“InsyaAllah, I believe that’s among the important things for us — that regardless of race, we must serve as servants of the people.
“What matters is that the voices and concerns of the rakyat are not only heard, but addressed,” he said, stressing that Warisan is currently the only party where the majority — more than 60 per cent — of its candidates or members are already made up of new or younger individuals.
