Warisan: Arrests will not break us

The arrests of two top Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) leaders in relation to a probe by MACC does not seem to be putting a damper on the morale of party supporters.

Instead, the number of Warisan supporters coming out in solidarity with the party's leaders seems to have increased, as observed at the Kota Kinabalu court complex today.

Hundreds thronged the court complex as they waited for Warisan Youth chief Mohd Azis Jamman, who was slapped with a five-day remand order, and vice-president Peter Anthony, whose remand order was extended for a further three days after the original five.

The duo's arrests are said to be in relation to MACC's probe into funds allegedly misappropriated from projects meant to be carried out by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Party president Mohd Shafie Apdal had helmed the ministry, before he was sacked after a Cabinet reshuffle two years ago. 

As Warisan nears its first anniversary, some are interpreting the arrests of Shafie's key men as a sign that the party is now seen as a threat. 

Shafie's fate in the ongoing probe is still unclear, but the former Umno leader nevertheless reminded his supporters that the party was not about him.

"Support Warisan not because of Shafie, support Warisan not because I'm a Bajau or because I'm a Muslim.

“What is important is not me, but the people of Sabah," Shafie said in his speech during a programme in Tenom last Saturday.

This was echoed by vice-president Junz Wong, who believes that the party has enough leaders to continue its fight.

"This party has never been about one or two people, it's about the people of Sabah and the struggle will definitely continue," he told Malaysiakini, stressing that this will hold true regardless of whether Shafie is arrested.

"If Shafie gets arrested, morale will be higher, (supporters) will be occupying the whole park," he said, pointing to the crowd present at the court complex.

"If you were to look at the crowd you could not tell whether they are Muslim, Dusun or  Chinese.

"Sabahans are uniting. By virtue of them doing that further cements the perception that Warisan is the only party that stands a chance to defeat Barisan Nasional."

Wong noted that the current situation faced by Warisan was reminiscent of the crackdown on Parti Bersatu Sabah (Bersatu) leaders in 1986.

"(PBS founder) (Josephen) Pairin (Kitingan) was charged but they won the election.

“(So) if BN think this will cripple us, they are wrong," added Wong.

As Warisan supporters waited at the court complex to catch a glimpse of their "heroes," they killed time by clapping their hands and chanting "Ubah Sabah" (change Sabah).

Asnor Amat Muda (third from left in photo) was one such high-spirited figure.

"The arrests have not weakened our spirit, instead, our spirit is stronger now, we are actually on fire," he said.

Like Wong, Asnor believes that the party has enough leaders to lead the party.

"Even if Shafie gets arrested, this will not break us," said the Warisan Kimanis division secretary.

Asnor is also optimistic that perception of the party in the public eye will not be affected.

"Most Sabahans feel that they need to change the current situation. Maybe some are afraid to come out, but like the time of (the rise of) PBS, I think the rakyat will rise to defend Sabah," he said.

Faizal Julaili (photo), the Papar Warisan secretary, cited the arrest of Peter, which he said has failed to dampen the spirit of party supporters.

"Peter also acts as a coordinator in Papar. One person may have been arrested but there are 10,000 Peters outside who bring with them high spirit (for change)," said the 42-year-old.

Faizal also believes that Warisan will only gain more sympathy in light of the arrests.

Siti Noorlizawana Shandrawan Jailin, the Kota Belud Warisan Wanita coordinator, meanwhile, decried what she believes to be double standards in the arrests of party leaders.

"There may be elements of corruption in this case but they (authorities) don't seem to see what's in front of them and are instead looking into something else," she said.

As a party coordinator, she admitted that a number of members have come to her with concerns about the future of the party in light of the arrests.

"But they come to understand after we explained the matter to them. So we ask those who are unclear about this to get explanation from your respective leaders.

"We don't want them to misunderstand this political ploy," she said.- Mkini