Kota Kinabalu: Warisan President Shafie Apdal said his party’s decision to contest the Sabah election without any alliances is because Sabahans deserve a future built on clear direction and not political deal-making.
“This is not just about winning seats. It’s about ensuring we have a direction—where we want to take the people, where we want to take Sabahans and Malaysians in Sabah,” he said.
Shafie said coalition politics often came with pressure for positions and concessions, distracting from the real issues people face on the ground.
“Sometimes there’s pressure in coalitions—they want posts, this and that. But what truly unites the people of Sabah are their needs: health, education, jobs, a better standard of living, and reliable access to water and electricity,” he said.
He noted that nearly 300,000 Sabahans are working in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong to make ends meet, a reflection of the state’s failure to retain its own talent despite being rich in natural resources.
“Imagine our children having to leave home just to find work. Why can’t we provide that here? If we had proper infrastructure and support, they could build their lives here and stay with their families.”
The Semporna MP said he had experience working with almost every political party and coalition, but felt it was time for Warisan to chart its own path forward.
Shafie also dismissed the idea that unity comes from coalitions alone, arguing instead that real unity lies in addressing the people’s struggles.
“I’ve joined hands with everyone. I don’t think there’s anyone I haven’t worked with. But it’s time to have clarity. Look at countries with clearer systems — Democrats and Republicans, for example — and see how far they’ve advanced,” he said.
