Warisan keeps door slightly open for post-election pacts

Warisan president Shafie Apdal says while the party is determined to govern Sabah on its own, the 'final outcome' will depend on whether it has enough seats.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal said his party will not work with coalitions based in West Malaysia to form the state government.

PETALING JAYA:

 Warisan is keeping its door narrowly open to cooperation with other parties after the Nov 29 Sabah polls, but only if such a pact would ultimately benefit the state and its people.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal said the party remains set on contesting the polls and forming the state government on its own, though the final outcome is dependent on whether it wins enough seats.

He told BFM’s The Breakfast Grille this was to ensure Warisan’s political independence, saying his party’s state election “alliance” was only with Sabahans.

Pressed on whether Warisan would seek partners if it falls short of the 37 seats needed to form the state government, Shafie replied: “We will see what the outcome (of the election) will be.”

The former Sabah chief minister nonetheless said Warisan would not work with coalitions based in West Malaysia to form the state government.

Warisan is the only party vying for all 73 seats in the state election, which will be hotly contested with more than 20 parties in contention.

The previous ruling state coalition, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, has an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, which in turn has a separate alliance with Barisan Nasional.

Shafie said Warisan, which is campaigning under the “Save Sabah” slogan, is going solo at the polls because of the need to unify Sabahans.

He said coalition politics had fuelled instability in the state, with political parties constantly demanding seats or posts, and leaving their coalitions when these demands were not met.

He said Sabah has become so divided not only by political parties, but also by “emotions, race and religion”.

Shafie said if Warisan forms the state government and he becomes chief minister, his focus would be on rebuilding state institutions and delivery systems.

He said Sabah needs urgent reforms after years of administrative failures, corruption scandals, and breakdowns in basic public services.

“Structural changes need to be done,” he said.

Asked whether young voters might favour new leaders instead, Shafie said he accepts criticisms of past leadership and acknowledges the need for renewal.

“We have to admit that we have made some mistakes,” he said.

In the 2020 state election, Warisan won 23 of the 46 seats it contested in, while Pakatan Harapan and Upko, which it was allies with, took eight and one, respectively.

A simple majority of 37 seats is needed to form the state government.

Following a series of defections, Warisan was left with 14 seats before the dissolution of the state assembly last month. - FMT