LAHAD DATU, Nov 5 — Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal defended the entry of some leaders from rival parties into Warisan as “not party-hopping but a growing wave of unity” among the people in Sabah.
He said allegations that Warisan is promoting party-hopping are baseless as the entry of these politicians took place after the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly when no government was in place.
He said the situation was completely different from instances where politicians switched parties while a government was still functioning, merely to gain positions or rewards.
“This is not party-hopping, this is a wave of Sabah unity. The assembly has been dissolved, there’s no government.
“What we are doing is unite the people of Sabah, not to chase after positions or projects,” he said, at the Program Jelajah Inspirasi DSSA bersama Rakyat Tungku, held at the open square of Felda Cenderawasih.
Also present were Warisan Deputy President Datuk Darell Leiking and Vice President Datuk Jaujan Sambakong.
In TAWAU, he said Warisan would announce its full list of 73 candidates contesting in the Nov. 29 Sabah election once a date is finalised.
He said the candidates, including several young faces, have been identified, but the official announcement would be made only when the date is confirmed.
Shafie dismissed a news portal report that Tawau residents were concerned about “Sempornanisation” of government appointments, political positions and Cabinet representation should Warisan win – saying “everyone is Sabahan”.
He described such issues as attempts to divide the community through narrow regional sentiment, stressing that all Warisan candidates, regardless of their area, are Sabahans.
“Sometimes the father is from Peninsular Malaysia and the mother is Sabahan — and that person can still contest. Previously, YB Datuk Christina Liew contested as Tawau MP and also as an Assemblywoman for Api-Api in Kota Kinabalu. She could contest in both KK and Tawau,” he said.
Shafie also stressed that it is the people of Sabah, not the Federal Government, who will ultimately decide the next Chief Minister after the state election.
“The ones voting are Sabahans. No Umno members from Peninsular Malaysia can vote here. They may campaign or canvass for support, that’s fine.
“But the decision on who forms the government and who leads it will rest with the 1.7 million Sabah voters,” he said.
“We want to make sure the aspirations and objectives enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 are fulfilled and fought for effectively, not just heard, but acted upon,” he said. — Daily Express
