By Datuk James Ligunjang JP
Former State Assemblyman
KOTA KINABALU : – Recent statements by the President of UMNO/BN indicating that his party is prepared to collaborate with Warisan in the upcoming state elections lend credibility to rumours of Langkah Kinabalu 2.0—potentially a coalition between UMNO/BN and Warisan.
Rumours circulating for months suggest that Bung Moktar, UMNO/BN’s chief for Sabah, has been engaged in meetings with top Warisan leaders to explore cooperation, pending approval from UMNO’s President and top leadership in Kuala Lumpur.
These discussions reportedly culminated in a meeting between Hamidi and Shafie.
Warisan, which originally announced plans to contest 73 constituencies, could face significant challenges—possibly including the deployment of sacrificial candidates in traditional UMNO strongholds to facilitate victories for UMNO candidates.
The ongoing negotiations between Zahid Hamidi and Shafie Apdal appear to be progressing, as described by Jocelyn Tan in her recent article in STAR Publications.
The report suggests that Warisan may be willing to concede the Chief Minister’s post as part of the bargain.
This raises several questions: Why would Shafie willingly relinquish the CM’s seat?
Could funding for Warisan candidates be part of the negotiation? Fielding 73 candidates would require substantial financial resources, which could strain Warisan’s finances.
Alternatively, might the looming contempt proceedings related to Shafie’s remarks during Zara’s inquest be influencing his willingness to submit to UMNO?
Such proceedings could lead to fines, imprisonment, or both—potentially disqualifying him from candidacy or the role of Chief Minister in the upcoming election.
The indictment for contempt of court against Shafie could have profound implications for his political career, possibly affecting his eligibility to run or serve as CM.
As the political intrigue in Sabah continues to evolve, let us wait for the full truth behind these developments to unfold.
