Kota Kinabalu: Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s recent remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context, said the party’s information chief, Datuk Azis Jamman.
“What the President proposed was collaboration with local parties such as PBS, Star, and other local entities within GRS that demonstrate integrity and courage, without needing to defer to leaders in Putrajaya,” he said Wednesday.
AdvertisementAzis added that the focus should be on strengthening Sabah-based parties ahead of the upcoming state elections, drawing inspiration from Sarawak’s approach to political leadership.
Azis highlighted past challenges that he claims raised doubts about the sincerity of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
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However, after PGRS was established, Azis alleged that Hajiji encouraged Warisan representatives to defect.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Despite Parliament passing the anti-party hopping law, Hajiji delayed its implementation in Sabah to continue enticing Warisan representatives to join PGRS.
“This raised serious questions about trustworthiness and integrity,” Azis said.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});While the idea of uniting Sabah’s local parties might seem appealing, Azis argued that GRS’s continued collaboration with national coalitions like Pakatan Harapan (PH) undermines the goal of prioritising Sabah’s rights.
“Such alliances dilute the struggle for Sabah’s autonomy and compromise the people’s interests,” he asserted.
Azis reiterated Warisan’s commitment to integrity, good governance, and combating corruption and abuse of power.
“We aim to end the exploitation of Sabah’s resources and eliminate the entrenched ‘Ali Baba’ culture.
“Partnering with parties tainted by integrity and corruption issues will erode public trust in State leadership,” he said.
He noted that public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) feedback has been overwhelmingly negative towards the idea of Warisan aligning with GRS.
“It is crucial to heed these voices calling for genuine change,” he said.
Azis concluded by reaffirming Warisan’s commitment to offering Sabahans a credible political choice rooted in fairness, inclusivity, and the fight for the State’s rights.
“Warisan exists not just to demand Sabah’s rightful entitlements but also to establish equitable governance for all, regardless of race or religion.
“Our focus remains on policies that benefit the people in the long term, prioritising integrity and transparency to break the cycle of poverty caused by systemic corruption,” he said.