Bersatu should honour its pact with Warisan

One thing is as clear as daylight. There was a tacit understanding. All of us heard the declaration before GE14 that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) would not be entering Sabah because of the presence of Parti Warisan.

Though not cast in stone, there was a deal, a pact or an understanding (or whatever you may wish to call it) struck between the two parties. And that, like a gentleman’s agreement though not legally binding, must be honoured.

Unfortunately, politics sways with the times and politicians are not particularly known to be honourable people. An unwritten pact between two vagrants on the street probably carries more weight and is more likely to be honoured.

Before GE14, Bersatu and Warisan were new, struggling parties venturing into the unknown. At that time, allies were needed, never mind whether the players trusted one another or not.

There was a common objective – to defeat Najib Abdul Razak and the BN government. Bersatu and Warisan needed each other to fight a common enemy. So they were able to explain why they decided to work together. The people, gullible as always, accepted it and stood by them.

Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad stated then that there was no need for his party to go to Sabah because Warisan was representative of the Malays and bumiputeras there. Well, that makes sense.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal (photo) had no desire to join Bersatu then, and he went on to form his own party with one main objective in mind – to become Sabah’s next chief minister. He succeeded.

In recent days, talk of Bersatu’s intention to form a chapter in Sabah has become a contentious issue. It is threatening to tear Warisan and its Harapan allies asunder.

Mahathir remained non-committal

Shafie has made it clear – he does not want Bersatu to enter Sabah. He asked Bersatu to stick to the understanding made before GE14. Whether Bersatu accedes to his request or not is another matter.

Shafie reportedly met Mahathir in recent days to convey his message, but the Bersatu boss remained non-committal, saying that he would leave it to the party’s supreme council to decide.

Meanwhile, other leaders of the two parties kept throwing punches at each other, further souring the ties between them. Both sides have valid reasons, but they must bear one important thing in mind – the people are fed up and are sick and tired of squabbling within and among the ruling parties.

The populace at large generally do not care what goes on behind the political walls of the parties or what electoral pacts they had. That was the past. They are concerned about the present, what those elected to hold power can do to help alleviate their sufferings and give them a better life.

But to the politicians and parties, it’s all about strength, power and glory, isn’t it? Bersatu, with the least number of MPs within the Harapan coalition, holds the prime minister’s post with more cabinet members than it truly deserves. Isn’t that powerful enough for Bersatu?

If Bersatu must be told, 20 or so former Sabah Umno lawmakers and 2,000 of their supporters do not represent Sabah and its four million people. So do not use that narrative as an excuse for your power-crazy motive to enter Sabah.

Apdal is also having a difficult time as chief minister, from the many reported criticisms and brickbats he has been receiving from Sabahans. The honeymoon is over for him.

If Bersatu is a real friend and ally, and being the backbone of the federal government, Sabah and Apdal could do with more tangible assistance from Putrajaya, not more political distractions.

Umno under Mahathir had good reasons not to enter Sarawak. He had said that Umno had an understanding with PBB under Abdul Taib Mahmud that “Umno is PBB in Sarawak”. So Umno never set foot in Sarawak and that has worked fine for some decades, until post-GE14 that is.

I see no reason why Bersatu, viewed as the new Umno by many, cannot accord similar respect to Warisan and Apdal. Why clamour for more power in East Malaysia when Bersatu is not really welcomed by Sabahans?

Sabahans have always been wary of divisive racial politics from the peninsula and I’m sure the majority of Sabahans do not welcome such ‘import’ from Malaya. As a Sarawakian, I can understand such sentiments.

The cries of “Sabah for Sabahans” and “Sarawak for Sarawakians” are growing louder. It will be to their benefit if Malayans, Bersatu leaders in particular, understand and accept that as a fact.

After all, didn’t Harapan promise to grant more autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak and to re-visit the Malaysia Agreement 1963? The peoples of the two regions or entities (not states, remember) are holding Harapan to that promise.

Bersatu launched its first chapter in Sarawak on Dec 1 last year. Since then, I have not heard anything worth talking about from Sarawak Bersatu. I have to say that I do not even remember the names of the Bersatu leaders in Sarawak. The response to the party from Sarawakians is lukewarm, at best.

Just as 300 Sarawakians clamouring for Bersatu to enter Sarawak are not representative of the people of Sarawak, so too the 20 or so ex-Sabah Umno leaders. They do not represent the people of Sabah.

Let me repeat that Sarawakians and Sabahans are wary of Umno’s divisive racial politics. Just don’t make us loath Bersatu the way we would keep our distance from Umno.

Most importantly, Bersatu must act with integrity and goodwill and keep its promise to Warisan. Be a gentleman and honour the agreement.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com - Mkini