Kota Kinabalu: The Keningau and Kota Marudu Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) divisions are said to be shaky while that in Matunggong reportedly collapsed after hordes of leaders quit to follow the footsteps of former Vice President Datuk Peter Anthony.
Keningau Warisan Division Vice Chief Jickol Tagua, Acting Women’s Chief and Deputy Division Chief, Julimah Anggula and Wirawati Exco and Keningau Acting Wirawati Chief Fadilla Lasmin were among those who announced quitting the party.
They announced their decision at a ceremony in Keningau on Wednesday which was also attended by several Divisional Committee, Women Committee, Wirawati and Wira members.
The actions of these leaders in Keningau and Matunggong, Kota Marudu were the latest after leaders in Tenom and Sepanggar Warisan divisions did likewise, recently.
“We decided to leave Warisan without any influence and insistence from any party. This is our decision to support Peter’s leadership in setting up a new government-friendly party,” said Tagua.
At about the same time, at the Leegot Hall in Kg Narandang, Matunggong, several leaders led by Kota Marudu Warisan Information Chief Barlus Mangabis also announced their decision to quit Warisan.
Among those who joined Mangabis were the Secretary of the Kota Marudu Warisan Division who is also the Matunggong Warisan Wira Chief, Herwin Maranjak; Matunggong Warisan Deputy Liaisons Chief, Jimis Monunsui; Matunggong Warisan Information Chief, Jotiol Madjamam and several Divisional Committee members as well as branch heads.
Mangabis (front, centre) announcing their decision to leave Warisan in Matunggong, together with Matunggong and Kota Marudu Warisan leaders.
“In Matunggong, it can be said that Warisan has already collapsed. Today, about 120 former leaders and members of Warisan are present. Many more are expected to join us to support Peter’s leadership in the new party,” said Madjamam.
Anthony, who is also Melalap Assemblyman, together with Limbahau Assemblyman Datuk Juil Nuatim left Warisan on Dec. 28 to set up a new KDMR party friendly to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Peter had said that he was disappointed that Warisan has forgotten about the reason it was set up for, i.e. to struggle for Sabah’s interests, by expanding to the peninsula.
He suggested that the party had lost its direction but this was rebutted by Party President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who said the decision to expand to Malaya was in response to requests and to fight the larger battle.
He also noted that Peter was facing cases in court.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised over Warisan’s move to the peninsula which seemed to focus only on mixed areas now held by DAP and PKR like in Penang, where it received many former DAP members.
Analysts said in doing so, Warisan may be helping Umno to take over Penang by splitting the Chinese and Indian votes. They said if Warisan wanted to test its acceptance, it should, instead, take its fight to the Umno, Bersatu and PAS strongholds.
