Leiking draws parallel between Shafie and Anwar's treatment

Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Darrell Leiking believes that the authorities are pursuing his party president Mohd Shafie Apdal because of the latter's ability to appeal to Sabah's various ethnic groups.

This, said Leiking, was similar to why there was a conspiracy against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was the glue which held opposition parties together in the defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

"It was not because he was the prime candidate for a new prime minister, but because he was the sole figure who could ensure that the three biggest opposition parties remain united under Pakatan Rakyat.

"Likewise, the main reason why Shafie had been detained... (is because) he is the (unifying) factor who could potentially lead the regime change in the Sabah.

"(He is capable of unifying) Sabahans from all colour, creed and background and this had been highlighted by a Bloomberg report," said Leiking in a statement today.

Since Warisan's establishment last year, said Leiking, Shafie has been under constant attacks by Sabah BN leaders who accused the former rural and regional development minister of neglecting his Semporna constituency and Sabah's east coast.

Leiking said that the irony behind all this was that the Sabah BN leaders were actually highlighting the state government's years of neglect in these areas.

"Shafie has been portrayed as if having prime ministerial powers and can do anything for Sabah while Chief Minister Musa Aman is nothing but a second fiddle player in developing and protecting the State.

"Hence, when all these attempts failed, there was only one way to stop Shafie's influence and Warisan's growing support - by fabricating charges and detaining him," he said.

Leiking said Shafie's detention will not stop Warisan's momentum and warned that Sabah was no stranger to regime change.- Mkini