Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan is open to the possibility of a broader Borneo Bloc involving Sabah and Sarawak, but any political cooperation must ensure that Sabah’s rights, interests and voice remain protected.
Its President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said no final decision had been made on any such arrangement, with the party still examining the best approach to ensure Sabahans had an effective political voice in the coming general election.
He has also been examining discussions with political counterparts, including Star and Parti KDM.
The former Chief Minister said formation of a Sabah Bloc was one option being considered, while cooperation under a wider Borneo Bloc was another possibility.
“The issue should not be approached solely from the perspective of parliamentary numbers, but focus on how Sabah and Sarawak could use their collective political and economic strength to contribute towards building a stronger Malaysia,” he told a press conference, Sunday.
He said political leaders should look beyond the distribution of seats, ministerial positions and other political benefits, and instead establish clear commitments on matters affecting the two Borneo states.
Any political understanding must have clearly defined “red lines” based on agreements, promises and commitments that had already been made. Sabah should not be left waiting indefinitely for matters to be resolved.
“There must be clarity on what has been agreed, what has been promised and what has been stated,” he stressed.
He said Sabah and Sarawak shared common interests and could work together without such cooperation being viewed as divisive, particularly on issues concerning their resources, development and rights.
Shafie also pointed to the combined parliamentary representation of Sabah and Sarawak, which have 25 and 31 seats respectively, but said their potential influence should not be measured by the 56 seats alone.
He said Sabah’s natural wealth, including its oil and other resources, should also be considered as part of its economic and political strength, with greater efforts needed to ensure these resources generate more benefits for Sabahans.
On possible cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Shafie said the determining factor should be whether such cooperation addressed the needs of Sabahans rather than simply serving the interests of a political grouping.
He said the priorities of Sabahans remained basic necessities such as reliable water and electricity supplies, employment, business opportunities and other essential services.
Shafie said he was not opposed to political cooperation but maintained that any partnership must be guided by clear principles and should not compromise Sabah’s voice.
“The objective of unity should be to secure tangible benefits for the people rather than merely bringing political parties together for their own interests,” he said.
