KOTA KINABALU: Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has dismissed claims that the party was attempting to buy or entice assemblymen amid uneasiness among partners in the newly formed Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) following the entry of Barisan Nasional.
“I firmly deny the claim that Warisan is attempting to buy or entice assemblymen. Our commitment has always been to integrity, and leadership must be earned through the trust of the people,” he said on Tuesday (Dec 2), responding to speculation that Warisan was luring GRS-linked assemblymen.
“Warisan respects the mandate of the people and the democratic process that guides our state,” said Shafie, whose party won 25 seats in last weekend’s Sabah election.
GRS and its partners won 30 seats to forge a coalition government, backed by three Upko assemblymen and five independents, with six Barisan Nasional assemblymen joining on Monday (Dec 2) as Datuk Hajiji Noor’s state cabinet was formed.
Shafie expressed sincere appreciation to all voters who supported Warisan.
“Your confidence in us is deeply valued and we carry that responsibility with humility and honour. We will continue to fulfil the role entrusted to us with dignity, consistency and unwavering dedication to serving Sabah,” he said.
An online news portal, quoting an unnamed GRS insider, reported that Warisan was attempting to undermine the new state government by offering positions to six Barisan and five independent assemblymen.
The report claimed GRS had no choice but to bring Barisan into the coalition, or risk collapse.
Following the inclusion of Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin as state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, at least a dozen GRS assemblymen, including the five independents, voiced uneasiness over Barisan’s presence in the coalition.
It was learned that the assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji and the GRS government and were not planning to destabilise it.
