‘Shafie doesn’t need to refer to KL any more for any decision’

Warisan permanent chairman VK Liew says party is not a component of Pakatan Harapan and only a strategic partner.

Warisan permanent chairman VK Liew says the Sabah government has the authority to decide on the state’s own affairs. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has the authority to decide on the state’s own affairs as Parti Warisan Sabah is not a part of the Pakatan Harapan fold, says Warisan permanent chairman VK Liew.

“The fact that Warisan is not a component party of PH means that we in Sabah have the autonomy to decide our own Sabah affairs.

“Our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal doesn’t need to ‘refer’ to Kuala Lumpur any more for any decision,” he said during a buka puasa event in Sabah’s Sandakan east coast district.

He pointed out that Warisan is a political strategic partner to PH, adding that the earlier electoral pact forged between the two meant PH would not contest in constituencies Warisan contested.

The Warisan-led Sabah government is made up of the alliance between Warisan, PH components PKR and DAP, and former BN outfit, the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko).

Liew said he did not wish to make an issue of PH component Amanah fielding a candidate against him in the Batu Sapi MP seat, adding he took it as a one-off case.

In any event, he said Amanah’s candidate lost his deposit as he only secured 980 votes.

Meanwhile, Liew also urged Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Musa Aman, who is reported to be out of the country, to return home to Sabah.

“I believe the people of Sabah have the right to know where their former CM is,” he said.

Musa’s lawyer Zahir Shah had said Musa was seeking medical treatment, which was long overdue, on the advice of his doctors.

“Tan Sri Musa will be back as soon as his medical treatment is completed and his physicians are satisfied with his overall health condition,” he added without disclosing Musa’s whereabouts.

Musa is being sought by the police to help in investigations connected to a police report made by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Juhar Mahiruddin over an alleged criminal intimidation report.

Musa has denied the allegation. Zahir said Musa regretted that Juhar had been dragged into the legal suit he had filed to decide whether he or Shafie was the rightful chief minister. -FMT