Warisan says its expansion not a platform for Dr M

 

Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr has rejected an analyst’s interpretation of salvation for Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

PETALING JAYA: Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr has stressed that the party’s decision to consider spreading its wings to Peninsular Malaysia was made entirely on its own.

“The decision to expand the party to Semenanjung was made by the party alone and it was certainly not influenced by Dr Mahathir Mohamad or any other individual,” he said.

The Warisan secretary-general’s comment comes in the wake of a political analyst’s view that Warisan expansion would provide Dr Mahathir Mohamad a political platform if he failed to register his new party, Pejuang.

Padua said Malaysians who believe in dignified politics, credibility, tolerance and coexistence could view Warisan as an alternative political party that is congruent with these ideals.

“The concept of ‘unity’ and ‘building a nation and not a particular race or religion’ which forms the foundation of Warisan has also captured the imagination of many Malaysians especially those who are tired of the racial and religious polemics,” he said in a statement.

“If political parties such as Umno, PPBM, PAS, PKR or DAP can become national political parties and expand to Sabah, then why can’t Warisan do the same thing and offer its ideals and concepts to all Malaysians in the peninsula?,” he said.

He said there should be no problem for Malaysians in the peninsula to accept and support Warisan because the party advocates unity in a multiracial society for which Sabah is a good example.

“As a party that is modelled on Sabah’s multiracial tolerance and harmony, Warisan is a very effective agent to promote these ideals in the country. We built this nation together.”

He said it didn’t make sense to restrict Warisan within the confines of being a state-level party. This totally contradicts the spirit of Sabah as an equal partner within the federation, he said.

Warisan’s expansion to western Malaysia was viewed by political analyst Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya as a means for Mahathir to regain a political footing as he had experienced difficulty with the registration of his party, Pejuang.

He said Mahathir could end up joining the Sabah-based party, and he expected Warisan to welcome the former prime minister into its fold since he could help the party gain acceptance in the peninsula.

Azman also noted that Warisan chief Shafie Apdal held Mahathir in high esteem and that this contrasted with his current attitude towards other opposition leaders.

During Warisan’s annual general meeting during the weekend, Shafie said Warisan had unanimously decided to spread its wings to the peninsula, starting with branches and divisions in Johor and Selangor, where there are high concentrations of Sabahans. - FMT