PBS leader slams Warisan for ‘using’ Abang Johari in campaign

 

Parti Bersatu Sabah vice-president Arthur Sen has taken aim at Warisan’s Junz Wong for describing Shafie Apdal as Sabah’s version of Abang Johari Openg.

PETALING JAYA: 

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president Arthur Sen has hit out at Warisan’s Junz Wong for attempting to associate Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg with Warisan’s political campaign to “save Sabah”.

Arthur was responding to a Facebook post by Wong, in which the Warisan vice-president urged voters to back party president Shafie Apdal, describing him as “our version of Abang Johari” and calling on Sabahans to “Vote Warisan to save Sabah”.

Wong shared a clip of his speech at a party event, where he claimed that then chief minister Shafie refused to play the political game of luring defectors with positions or projects during the 2020 Sabah political crisis.

“He (Shafie) wanted to put an end to this culture of buying over people with projects and positions.

“He didn’t want any of that. He was willing to sacrifice (power).

“He (sought the consent of then Sabah governor Juhar Mahiruddin and) dissolved the entire state assembly (which led to a snap state election),” he said.

In that snap election, Warisan was defeated by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah which won 38 out of 73 seats.

In a Facebook post, Arthur expressed his amusement and cited a remark by former Sarawak deputy chief minister, the late James Masing, who had accused Warisan of being “afraid” to demand oil and gas rights from the federal government.

“I think Junz’s attempt to build a political narrative linking Abang Johari to Warisan is far-fetched.

“I’ve never seen Abang Johari issue a ‘happy to approve note’ for MyKad and MyKas applications or endorsing court orders for the issuance of Malaysian identity cards,” he said, in an apparent swipe at Warisan’s past handling of identity documentation. - FMT