Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan has emerged as a youth-driven party, with a leadership line-up largely made up of young and highly qualified professionals shaping the party’s direction.
Its President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the party’s strong youth presence is reflected in the key roles held by young leaders from diverse professional backgrounds, including engineering, law and medicine.
“Warisan is a young party. When you look at our line-up, it’s not just the energy of youth that stands out — they are also capable, well-educated and passionate about change. We must listen to their voices,” he said during a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Friday.
Shafie was responding to questions about the growing number of young voters expected to influence voting trends in the coming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17).
He cited his deputy Datuk Darell Leiking, Women’s Wing Chief Isnaraissah Munirah, Information Chief Datuk Aziz Jamman, Secretary-General Datuk Loretto Padua, Youth Chief Terrence Au and Treasurer Datuk Rosman.
“We hear the voices of the young — about 40 to 50 per cent of voters now come from this group. What we build today must take their hopes and dreams into account,” he said.
Shafie added that his political journey has never been about personal gain, but about ensuring the next generation inherits a better tomorrow.
“In time, we’ll know how many young candidates we will field — but our focus remains clear: it’s about Sabah’s future,” he said.