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PARTI Warisan (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has affirmed today that his party remains open to alliances exclusively with Sabah-based political parties, insisting that the state’s governance should be determined by local voices rather than Peninsular-driven agendas.
Shafie emphasised that any collaboration must align with the true definition of a local party and reflect the aspirations of Sabahans.
Speaking at a press conference at Warisan’s Kolombong headquarters on Sunday, he maintained that the party’s stance has been consistent: the future of Sabah must be shaped by leaders rooted in the state.
When asked whether this position extended to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Shafie acknowledged that the coalition identifies as a local party but cautioned that “the majority is not an absolute majority,” signalling his reservations about GRS’s composition and political alignment.
Shafie underlined that the issue is not one of competition between political blocs but of ensuring that Sabah’s direction is guided by the genuine needs and desires of its people. “I don’t want to comfort myself by saying we should be the government of the day because it’s not so easy. What matters is whether we can fulfil what Sabahans need,” he said.
While reiterating that Warisan would not entirely close the door to potential cooperation, Shafie made clear that any alignment must be rooted in authentic Sabah-based leadership and governance principles.
In response to questions about post-election discussions, Shafie firmly denied meeting with any party leaders on the night of the polling results.
“There was no meeting. Wallahi, I did not meet any leader,” he stated, noting that he returned home to rest following an exhaustive election campaign.
He added that Warisan has no immediate plans for post-election negotiations until the Sabah State Legislative Assembly convenes.
Warisan secured 25 of the 73 seats contested in the 17th Sabah state election. GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has since been sworn in as Chief Minister, following claims that his coalition holds a majority to form the state government. - November 30, 2025