KOTA KINABALU: The political allegiance of Sabah’s Chinese community is never determined by which coalition holds government power, but by unwavering principles and a steadfast commitment to Sabah’s rights and future, Warisan Youth Penampang chief Melvin Lo Foo Wei said.
His remarks came in response to claims by former politician Datuk David Chong Ket Sui that droves of Chinese supporters had abandoned Parti Warisan and regretted voting for the party — assertions Melvin dismissed as baseless and unsupported by any verifiable evidence.
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“Claims that more than 10,000 members have left the party, or that Chinese voters have turned their backs on Warisan, must be backed by official records and hard data. Where are the facts and figures? Broad, unsubstantiated statements only serve to mislead the public and sow unnecessary division,” he said.
Melvin also questioned the credibility of David’s claims, pointing out that the former politician had shifted his political allegiance through multiple parties over the decades — from the Sabah Chinese Association, Berjaya, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Sabah Progressive Party to the Democratic Action Party — before now aligning himself with the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah administration.
“People are entitled to form their own judgment on where such claims come from and what they are intended to achieve,” he said.
Melvin highlighted the legacy of anti-Japanese resistance leader Albert Kwok and other pioneers of the Chinese community who stood firm in defending Sabah’s dignity, saying the same spirit continues to shape the community’s political choices today.
“Chinese Sabahans have consistently stood up against corruption, abuse of power and poor governance. Their core concerns — safeguarding Sabah’s constitutional status under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, building a fairer society and securing a better future for all — are exactly what Warisan continues to fight for,” he added.
Melvin emphasised that feedback gathered through ground engagements, community dialogues and walkabouts across Sabah painted a clear picture that many voters continued to stand by Warisan and did not regret supporting the opposition despite its position outside the government.
