Shafie with Datuk Darrel Leiking (left) and Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (right) during the Press conference.
KOTA KINABALU (Oct 2): Warisan president Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal said that the party will contest in all the seats in the 17th state election which it had won in the past.
In the last Sabah state election, Warisan contested 46 seats and won 23.
Over the last few years, 11 of state assemblymen have left the party while two DAP state assembly members have joined Warisan, leaving the party with 14 seats currently.
“That is definite … we will contest all of them,” he told the media on Tuesday.
He added that there are 73 State seats contested in the upcoming election, which will likely be held next year.
“The question of whether we will contest at certain seats shall depend on position, strength and capacity.
“What is important is we win when we contest,” he stressed.
Shafie added that in order to realise this aim, the party will assess the grassroots.
“What we know is there are several seats that are our stronghold, or formerly held by Warisan. There are several seats that we have once won, so there are voters who have voted (for us), who know (us) and that is where will shall strengthen ourselves.
“We will also consider seats that we will add on,” he said.
Shafie also said that there are people asking if Warisan would form alliances with any other party.
“Right now, we have yet to decide. Even though we say that it is an option for us, but in the Sabah political history, there are parties that went without alliances, such as Berjaya which ruled from 1975 to 1985 and PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) from 1985 to 1990,” he said.
So that means the people of Sabah have experienced voting for single parties, he reminded.
“But we must see our position and strength,” he added.
Shafie also said that it was not because they were overly confident, but looking at Sabah’s past, everything depended on the Sabah people and who they voted for.
“And if there is an alliance, we will resort for local parties … but I don’t want local parties that when it comes to the voice of the people of Sabah, the people’s mandate, when we become YBs, you betray the voice and the right that had been expected of you. You don’t realise what the people want,” he said.
He also said that Warisan had not received any offers, both officially and unofficially.
“None yet. People talk, during meetings at parliament and at the state assembly, but the talks are not connected (to forming alliances) but could be about the salty water issue in Sandakan and many others,” he said.
Shafie cited that he was also invited to sit in a panel with STAR president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffery Kitingan to discuss about stateless children organized by the Germany ambassador.
“That was all,” he said.
As for Barisan Nasional’s decision to work with Pakatan Harapan in the Sabah election, he said that this was BN’s right.
“That is their right. It is their party. It is their rights,” he said.
He also said that similarly, when Warisan decides, it would be the decision of the party and its members.
“It is not mine alone and I discuss with my deputy but the two of us cannot make decisions (on our own), we bring it to the supreme council, the party convention. Let the party decide,” he said.
