Reject national parties in coming polls, says Shafie
Published on: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
By: Nikko Fabian
Shafie argued that Warisan’s commitment to fairness is evident in its previous two-year government (2018-2020), where four Chinese leaders were appointed to the State Cabinet.
Kota Kinabalu: Opposition Parti Warisan President Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal issued a stark warning to Sabahans, urging them to reject national parties in the coming state election to prevent manipulation by outsiders.
Speaking to the Chinese community in Tawau over the weekend, he emphasised the need for a unified Sabah voice, saying a divided electorate could easily fall prey to external influence.
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He highlighted the State’s ongoing struggle with basic amenities such as water, electricity, healthcare and education, emphasising that a local party is better equipped to advocate Sabah’s interests.
“I don’t know when the state election will be called. It could be this year or next year,” Shafie said. “But Sabahans should not rely on Kuala Lumpur to solve our problems.”
He stressed that the coming election is crucial for ensuring a Chief Minister from a Sabah party is elected, unlike the 2022 general election where the focus was on changing the Prime Minister.
Shafie warned that a fragmented electorate could be easily manipulated by outsiders, undermining efforts to regain Sabah’s rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
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“If Sabahans are divided among various parties, they could be easily manipulated by outsiders,” he said.
“Elected representatives from national parties would have to follow their bosses, which might not be in the best interest of Sabah. Don’t let them divide and conquer.”
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Shafie cited Warisan’s collaboration with DAP in the 2020 state election, where DAP won six state seats under the Warisan symbol.
However, he criticised DAP for withdrawing their support from Warisan in 2022, opting to support another party instead.
“DAP used our symbol, and when I asked them to help us form the state government (in January 2022), they went to help someone else,” Shafie said.
He also criticised the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government for having only two Chinese ministers, who were appointed only after Sabah Pakatan intervened to support Hajiji’s State Government.
Shafie argued that Warisan’s commitment to fairness is evident in its previous two-year government (2018-2020), where four Chinese leaders were appointed to the State Cabinet.
Shafie concluded his message by urging Sabahans to support Warisan, promising to appoint a qualified Chinese Assemblyman as State Finance Minister if his party wins the coming election.
He cautioned against supporting parties and leaders whose focus is on personal gain rather than the State’s interests, as such actions could further divide Sabah and weaken its ability to secure its rights.
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