We’re ready, even for snap polls, says Warisan

Warisan treasurer-general Terrence Siambun says his party is ready for snap polls.

KOTA KINABALU: Warisan says it has no problem facing the resurrected Sabah Umno and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the event of a snap election to settle the current political turmoil plaguing the country.

Its treasurer-general, Terrence Siambun, said the solid cooperation and good understanding among Warisan, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Upko is the key to ensuring that PH Plus will win and continue to protect democracy and the dignity of Sabahans at the federal level.

“The foundation of this solid cooperation and understanding among PH Plus parties has been strengthened through the many tests and trials faced since the day Warisan was established,” he said.

The former Moyog assemblyman said this has created a sense of unity, teamwork and loyalty among all leaders in the coalition.

“All Sabahan leaders in PH Plus aspire for the same things, which is full autonomy to manage the state and to play a major contributory role in the development of Malaysia, in line with Sabah being an equal partner in the federation.

“And this has been accepted by the West Malaysian PH Plus leaders when five Warisan leaders were given the opportunity to serve Malaysia (in the previous PH federal Cabinet),” Siambun said in a statement here today.

The Election Commission (EC) had stated that it is ready in the event a snap election is called.

Siambun said there was no reason for Sabahans to fear Umno despite it regaining power at the federal level through the PN pact.

“The 14th general election was the hardest and trickiest of all elections because former prime minister Najib Razak had pushed Umno to the maximum to ensure that he would retain his power.

“In Sabah, we had the so-called ‘Third Force’, comprising STAR, SAPP and others, that caused the votes in the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) areas to be split, preventing Warisan from winning those seats.

“So, since this so-called ‘Third Force’ has now exposed its true colours by supporting Umno, I reckon it will be a straight fight between PH Plus and PN. This augurs well for us because our chances of seizing the KDM seats are now becoming brighter.”

Siambun claimed that they also have another advantage as Sabahans rejected the political ideologies of PN such as Ketuanan Umno (Umno supremacy) and the hudud laws of PAS.

“I don’t think the Sabahan voters will want to go back to the 23 years’ of discriminatory and manipulative administration of Umno,” he said.

He also criticised what he called opportunistic Sabah political leaders who had previously claimed that Umno is the cause of all the misery in the state but are now in cahoots with the party. - FMT