KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan (Warisan) today confirmed that the party is contesting 53 parliamentary seats nationwide in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Its president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pix) said they comprised 27 seats in the peninsula, 25 seats in Sabah and one in Labuan.
“When we want to contest, we have to make sure we can win, not simply to fulfill what the people’s wishes...we need winnable candidates, those who are capable, knowledgeable, we want candidates with soul...defend our rights, especially MA63 (MA63 Agreement), don’t just make promises,“ he told a press conference after announcing the party candidates for GE15 here today.
He said Warisan was still looking to field its candidates at a few more parliamentary seats in the peninsula if there was positive feedback from the electorates and the party had the candidates.
Meanwhile, at the event, Mohd Shafie, who is Senallang Assemblyman and the incumbent Semporna Member of Parliament, announced that he would defend the parliamentary seat, which he has held for six terms since 1995, five of which were on Barisan Nasional’s (BN) ticket, while in 2018 (GE14), he won the seat on Warisan’s ticket.
He said Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, who is also Moyog Assemblyman, would defend the Penampang parliamentary seat, and party’s Information Chief Datuk Azis Jamman is defending the Sepanggar seat.
Others who are announced to defend their respective parliamentary seats are Warisan Wirawati chief Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud) and two of the party Supreme Council (AMT) members Datuk Rozman Isli (Labuan) and Ma’mun Sulaiman (Kalabakan).
He said that among the new faces are Warisan Wira chief Mohd Ismail Ayob (Kinabatangan), Wirawati deputy chief Jo-Anna Sue Henly Rampas (Tuaran) and Ranau Warisan division head Markos Siton (Ranau).
In addition to Mohd Shafie and Darrel, the nominated assemblyman consists of Bongawan assemblyman Dr Daud Yusof (Kimanis), and Sekong assemblyman Alias Sani (Batu Sapi), while former Lahad Datu assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal is also Mohd Shafie’s younger brother running for the Lahad Datu parliamentary seat.
Others fielded are Bongawan Assemblyman Dr Daud Yusof, for Kimanis and Sekong Assemblyman Alias Sani (Batu Sapi), while former Lahad Datu Assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal is fielded as the candidate for the Lahad Datu parliamentary seat.
(NOTE: Following redelineation of Sabah electoral boundaries in 2019, the name of the Silam parliamentarery constituency was changed to Lahad Datu, while state constituency of Lahad Datu to Silam).
More to come...