Ex-Sabah secretary: Warisan-PKR-DAP pact a legitimate challenger

GE14 | Parti Warisan Sabah, PKR and the DAP are a step closer to truly finalising their electoral pact to face BN in the coming general election.

With Warisan being a relatively new party and the DAP and PKR having only secured a handful of seats in the state in the last general election, some may wonder whether the pact would be a legitimate challenge to BN.

Former Sabah state secretary Simon Sipaun described the political pact as a strategic move and one that would benefit all three parties.

"This time around, the BN dominated by Umno will face its biggest challenge because it is facing a former Umno heavyweight," Simon said, in reference to Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

"Warisan is the only credible Sabah-based party that has the best chance of capturing the state government."

This, he explained, was due to Warisan's appeal to all Sabahans, regardless of race and religion.

"Unlike Malaya, Sabah has no less than 40 ethnic groups. No racially-based party can capture the state government."

"Warisan's congress on Monday attracted a crowd of more than 5,000," Simon (photo) further pointed out.

Shafie's leadership gained momentum

Simon is also of the opinion that Shafie's leadership has gained momentum in the state.

"He had the courage to ask questions in the cabinet. He could have followed the footsteps of the other leaders by keeping quiet, although aware that something was not right.

"He was offered the post of deputy president in Bersatu, but he turned it down," he pointed out.

Like Simon, political analyst James Chin believes that the electoral pact among Warisan, PKR and the DAP would indeed be a legitimate challenge to BN.

However, Chin said the question lies on whether the pact would be able to win over Muslim votes.

"If yes, then (Sabah Chief Minister) Musa (Aman) is in trouble. Warisan will probably pick up one or two additional Kadazandusun Murut seats.

"The big loser in the pact will be PKR. They are squeezed in between DAP, Warisan and BN," said Chin, who is director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania.

As for Gabungan Sabah, another opposition coalition, Chin (photo) believes that some from the coalition might try to join the electoral pact with Warisan and the two Pakatan Harapan parties.

"They know that three-cornered fights can make it impossible for wins.

"(But) in Sabah, all deals are last minute, so don't get excited yet. Even the Warisan and PKR-DAP deal will be changed on nomination day."

'I see them as Trojan horses'

Simon, on the other hand, pointed out how Gabungan Sabah had already been tested in the last general election.

"(Sabah Progressive Party president) Yong Teck Lee almost lost his deposit. He was defeated by the then unknown Junz Wong (former DAP leader and now Warisan vice-president).

"(Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah president) Lajim Ukin lost the parliamentary seat and just scraped through the state seat. The same with Star (Sabah State Reform Party) president Jeffrey Kitingan, who lost the parliamentary seat but won the Bingkor state seat by about 400 votes," Simon said.

Noting that most of the parties are racially based, he believes they will only split the votes.

"I see them as Trojan horses," he quipped.

Shafie announced on Monday that the electoral pact in Sabah comprising Warisan, PKR and the DAP was a "done deal".

While leaders from Gabungan Sabah have insisted that discussions were previously held before between representatives from Warisan and Gabungan Sabah, Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking denied that there ever was any discussion. - Mkini