United opposition front crucial to winning more seats - Sabah Harapan chief

A united front among Sabah's opposition parties is a prerequisite to ensure winning more seats in the 15th general election, said Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairperson Christina Liew.

The Api-Api assemblyperson said the component parties are working well at the state level and that she had several meetings with the chairperson of Muda in Sabah.

"Unity among Sabah's opposition parties is of paramount importance, and that includes Muda. We believe we are able to work with all the component parties in Sabah Harapan and also with Muda in facing GE15, but this is subject to seat allocation among us.

"Only through a united front will we have a bigger chance of winning more seats. If we are divided, we will not be able to achieve our target seats," Liew (above) told reporters after a walkabout at the Gaya Street Sunday Fair in Kota Kinabalu to distribute some 500 national flags to mark National Day this year.

Answering a question on cooperating with Warisan, she said: "I have always said that we will be open to working with any party that can sit down with us and talk, not particularly any party, but any party that is open for discussion."

Rights and autonomy

While acknowledging that Harapan is a national coalition, Liew said it is localised in Sabah due to autonomy.

"We believe we will be able to speak and be the voice of Sabahans when it comes to the question of getting our rights and our autonomy," she added.

Asked whether she foresees smooth negotiations among Harapan and also with other parties that want to work with Sabah Harapan, Liew answered in the affirmative.

"Yes, I believe every party, every leader, who has that in mind (settlement of seat allocation) before we go to the battlefield, will be able to help us to achieve our target. We hope to win as many seats as we can," she said.

Meanwhile, Liew noted that 1MDB and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) cases are flaring up in the Peninsular, and voters in Sabah are also aware of what is going on.

"We, too, are watching and monitoring the developments in the country," she added.

Liew was accompanied by Inanam assemblyperson Peto Galim and representatives from several party branches. - Mkini