Warisan targets Peninsular launch by May, eyes Sabahan communities

 

Sabah-based Warisan is eyeing to contest seats in Peninsular Malaysia with a large Sabahan community after it spread its wings to the peninsula, possibly in May.

This according to its Youth chief Mohd Azis Jamman (above) who said Warisan will identify the constituencies and possible candidates for the next general election.

"Yes, (we will be looking) for winnable candidates," he said, adding that this will be announced by party president Shafie Apdal.

Azis, who is former deputy home minister, said his party may launch its new branch in the peninsula during the Ramadan month either in April or May.

Shafie and Warisan leaders are expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur for the event, he said, adding an office would be set up in Kuala Lumpur.

Elaborating on Warisan's expansion plan, Azis said his party will first set up branches at constituencies with a large Sabah community.

He said many Sabahans resided at places such as Pasir Gudang in Johor, Shah Alam in Selangor and Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur.

These are areas where thousands of Sabahans arrived for work initially and later settled down to raise their families. However, many of them still travel back home to vote during elections.

"We have advised some of them who have been residing in the peninsula for a long time to change their voting addresses," said Azis

"There are signs that a lot of people are interested to be with us. Just today, I got calls from my former colleagues in Umno, telling me that they are interested to be part of Warisan's struggle in the peninsula," said the Sepanggar MP.

Meanwhile, party vice-president Junz Wong said Warisan's membership was open to all Malaysians, not just Sabahans.

"Malaysians are welcomed to join the party," he said.

Wong said his party can cooperate with any party to form the government in the next general election.

He said Warisan was still observing the current situation due to the political uncertainty in the peninsula, thus it was still too early to conclude which parties Warisan will work with.

"But we will not form a political pact, this has been decided long ago," he added.

Warisan vice-president Junz Wong

He said this when asked if Warisan would cooperate with Muda, Pejuang and other parties ahead of the next general election.

Speculation had been rife that Warisan would merge with Muda, which was formed by former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in May.

Shafie 'well-liked'

With Warisan spreading its wing to the peninsula and becoming a national party, Wong again offered Shafie as the prime minister candidate for Malaysians at the next polls.

"The politics are quite dynamic, thus, it is possible. However, this will be determined by the seats that we win and if we are in a commanding position where we can cooperate with (political parties) from the Borneo states.

"Then we can negotiate (for the premiership)," he said.

He said Dr Mahathir Mohamad was named prime minister in 2018 when Bersatu which was founded by him won only 12 seats.

Similarly, he said Muhyiddin Yassin was made prime minister when his party Bersatu only commanded a few seats.

"Moreover, Shafie himself was a federal minister that is well-liked by many in the peninsula, particular by the Malays," he said.

Warisan, a five-year-old party established by Shafie, formed the state government in Sabah in 2018, only to let it slip when a snap election was forced in September 2020.

Warisan won eight parliamentary seats in 2018. - Mkini