SHAFIE Apdal’s body still aches from lying on the floor of an air-conditioned room at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office where he was detained for almost a week three months ago.
His ego was also clearly bruised as he was a former minister. His arrest by the MACC caused havoc with his blood pressure, which led to his hospitalisation.
But the fight did not leave Shafie, who is now leading Parti Warisan Sabah into Barisan Nasional strongholds, whipping up support ahead of the 14th general election, a defeated man.
Shafie and Warisan have hit the campaign trail in Sabah with a vengeance, drawing in crowds in the BN strongholds of Kota Belud, Tuaran, Labuan and Kimanis through the party’s “Bicara Pemimpin” tour.
“The crowds are getting larger. This is a good sign,” the Warisan leader told The Malaysian Insight.
Warisan’s tour began in Kota Belud on January 13 and ended yesterday in Kimanis. It was estimated that at least 2,000 supporters turned up at each of the ceramah.
But the Semporna MP is not taking anything for granted. He feels that he will still be picked up again by the anti-graft agency.
“Even if I am arrested by the MACC, I will make sure that whatever the party has planned will be executed.
“I have my deputy Darell Leiking to continue if something happens to me. He is a capable man.
“I have all planned out and I am prepared for anything.”
Shafie said he is willing to die for the struggle of state rights and to see the fall of the BN regime.
He, however, did not want to dwell on his arrest last October.
Shafie was held over the alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion of federal fundsearmarked for Sabah.
Also hauled in were Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony, Warisan Youth leader Azis Jamman, Tenom Umno Youth chief Jamawi Jaafar, Tawau Umno Youth chief Ariffin Kassim, a senior officer from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, a 54-year-old businessman, Shafie’s two younger brothers – Hamid and Yusof – and Hamid’s 33-year-old businessman son-in-law, Manzur Hussein Awal Khan.
“My body still hurts and it’s probably because I was forced to sleep on the hard floor with the air-condition switched on,” he said.
But he is pleased with the support that Warisan has received through the “Bicara Pemimpin” tour, even at Umno strongholds.
At Kimanis yesterday, Shafie told around 2,000 supporters the way to defeat the BN regime in Sabah is to work with Pakatan Harapan.
“Warisan can’t do it alone. We also need the support of the PH to win the elections in Sabah.”
According to him, not only will he form a mixed state government with PH, he will ensure that Warisan members have a representation in Parliament.
Several supporters at yesterday’s event believe Shafie’s detention was nothing but a political game.
Limsan S. asked why Shafie was not arrested when he was in Cabinet, if he were truly guilty.
“They should have nabbed him when he was a federal minister and vice-president of Umno,” the 56-year-old Limsan said.
“Anyone in their right mind will know that there was an agenda behind these detentions.”
Limsan said he would still support Warisan even if Shafie is not the president.
“This is the only party trying to unite all Sabahans. This is why Warisan is the party for Sabah.”
His thoughts were shared by Yok Limsin, a 23-year-old KadazanDusun Murut.
“I think it was wrong that he was detained. It is unfair when someone who is able to unite Sabahans across all races is arrested.
“As a KadazanDusun Murut, it is rare to see an event where Bajau and the KDM communities would be able to turn up together,” he said.
The ceramah in Kimanis was the last in the tour.
Like all the four places in the party’s roadshow, Kimanis is also a BN stronghold, where its MP is Umno’s Anifah Aman.
Present in Kimanis were Leiking, vice-president Jaujan Sambokong and treasurer Terrence Siambun.
Last week, Shafie also spoke in Kota Belud and Tuaran, drawing reactions from other opposition parties like DAP Sabah and the state opposition alliance United Sabah Alliance (USA) amid Prime Minister Najib Razak’s two-day visit to Sabah.
Shafie made it clear Warisan will not work with (USA), citing the party’s tendency to stir up racial issues and calling Warisan “parti lanun” or “parti Suluk”, a derogatory remark against Shafie’s heritage.
“For this, the leaders in United Sabah Alliance will never get the support of the Bajau communities in the east coast,” Shafie said.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.