Sabah DAP coy on call for PH leadership change

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP is cautiously distancing itself from a call by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for a change in leadership in the national opposition.

Instead, its Acting Chief Datuk Frankie Poon (pic) said whoever is in the federal opposition line-up should be able to help Sabah’s cause.

Asked if Shafie’s comments have put his party, a close ally of Warisan in the State, in an awkward position, Poon, the Tanjong Papat Assemblyman, said the former Chief Minister was entitled to his own opinion. 

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However, he added, the two parties remained close.

“I cannot control what he (Shafie) has to say – he has the right. To me, I’m looking only at the interest of Sabah, how does it work for the State,” he told FMT.

Shafie had said last week that the opposition would fail at the next general election if the same old leadership remains at the helm of the opposition.

Without naming anyone, the Semporna MP said there was a need for change in the leadership across the board, adding that the current crop of leaders was disunited and had no direction. His comments, however, were construed as an attack against opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

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Following this, Sabah PKR leaders hit back, with its State Youth Chief Raymond Ahuar saying the current leadership was still strong. 

He, in turn, claimed that parties like Warisan and Pejuang were the ones attempting to weaken Pakatan Harapan by not supporting the coalition’s efforts in Parliament.

State PKR Information Chief Razeek Rakimin also turned the tables on Warisan, saying the party should revamp its leadership ahead of GE15 if it did not want to fail in the coming general election.

Meanwhile, Poon welcomed a move by Warisan to spread its wings to the peninsula, pointing out Shafie not only has influence in the State but across the South China Sea as well.

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“My experience with Shafie has showed me that he is a very capable leader with vast experience and clear vision.

“I am sure Warisan can grow bigger when they go national although it will not be easy,” he said, adding Warisan would need time to establish itself in the peninsula.

He also added that DAP would have no issues working with Warisan in the future despite the move, saying they are ready to work with anyone who aspired to fight for Sabah’s interests.