Warisan president says an understanding with Pakatan Harapan needs to be put in place for the two sides to work effectively should they win GE14.
![Shafie_cny](http://s3media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Shafie_cny.jpg)
Shafie (3rd right) with VK Liew (2nd left) and other Warisan leaders during the Chinese New Year open house.
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) has yet to reach an agreement with Pakatan Harapan (PH) over the distribution of seats in Sabah among the opposition parties for the 14th General Election (GE14).
Warisan president Shafie Apdal said he was still in talks with PH to strike a “balance” with the peninsula-based pact to ensure a winning formula, with Warisan being the frontrunner for state seats.
“We have to finalise it (soon) but I’m still talking to them (PH). We must make sure that we (Warisan) take control of it (state),” he said.
He said an understanding between Warisan and PH needed to be put in place in order for the two sides to work effectively should they win the polls.
He said PH could form the federal government but must adhere to conditions for the formation of a Sabah state government.
“The response from PH looks positive but of course we have to make them realise that Sabah’s rights and the people’s interest should be protected,” Shafie told reporters at Warisan’s Chinese New Year open house here today.
“That is why I don’t want to sign a pact with PH (yet). I have told (PH chairman) Tun Mahathir Mohamad, (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim and (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang: I want you guys to topple BN in KL, but I want to demand for my fellow Sabahans what is right for us,” he said.
He said Warisan hoped to have the matter finalised before dissolution of Parliament which must take place by June 24.
Shafie also said the allocation of seats and selection of candidates must not be inappropriately race-based.
“We are not saying that DAP must take all the Chinese seats, as we have Chinese candidates too,” he said.
He added however that communities needed to be properly represented. For example the Tenom parliamentary constituency, which has a majority Murut population, should have a Murut candidate and not one who is Bajau, he said.
Also present at the open house were Sabah PH chairperson Christina Liew, former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president VK Liew, former Sabah Umno treasurer Ibrahim Menudin, and members from Parti Cinta Sabah and PKR.
Earlier, Shafie said in his speech that a Warisan state government would strive to deliver what the Barisan Nasional (BN) had failed to provide, including free education for primary and secondary school students.
“I have asked (Warisan vice-president) Junz Wong and Datuk VK Liew to look at this possibility,” he said.
“We calculated that at RM300 per student the government will spend about RM200 million for this purpose,” he added.
He said the Warisan administration would also demand the PH federal government abolish the goods and services tax (GST) and communal titles in Sabah.
“God willing, if we administer the state government we will deliver all our planned policies for the benefit of the people. If we don’t deliver in the next five years, don’t vote for Warisan (again),” he said.
He also called on Sabah voters to be united in opting for Warisan and not split their votes among the 21 opposition parties in the state.
“The only party that can change the government in Sabah is Warisan,” he said. -FMT
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