Warisan formed for Shafie’s political survival – Annuar
KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno are still in Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s ‘little heart’ and Parti Warisan Sabah was only formed for his political survival, said Umno Information Chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Annuar said the Warisan president Shafie of today never had ambitions to establish another party as the latter had embodied and propagated the party’s political beliefs wholeheartedly since he was a young Umno leader.
“Or else he wouldn’t be the vice president. The Umno people will not choose a leader that cannot show commitment, understanding, appreciation towards the foundation and policy of the party’s struggle,” said Annuar, who is also Umno Supreme Council member. Shafie was voted, elected to become one of the senior vice presidents. Why? Because during that time the Umno people, including from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, believed in the words of Datuk Seri Shafie and that he is confident with the Barisan Nasional concept for the nation, not only for Sabah and Sarawak.
“So I am confident, in Parliament we sit next to each other and until now still greet each other, discuss, chat as usual. I know Umno and Barisan Nasional are still in his little heart. But because, when holding such a high position we will be tested, he took the wrong step in his approach to supposedly ‘menegur’ (rebuke) the government during that time” he recalled.
Annuar alleged that Shafie had been deceived by the nation’s longest serving Prime Minister and former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and believed the former premier could bring him to greater political heights through Umno.
“Don’t forget the early strategy of Dr Mahathir, to take control of Umno by pushing out Datuk Seri Najib, trying to create a wave to push out Najib, that is what he did to Pak Lah and previous Umno leaders,” said Annuar here yesterday.
“But this time around what Mahathir had planned did not happen and resulted in a few people being kicked out and that situation had forced Shafie to think about his political survival. He wouldn’t remain silent, if he had kept quiet he would be finished.
“So the establishment of Parti Warisan is for the political survival of Shafie,” he added.
Annuar said Warisan had gained a political following by using the easiest tactic, playing with the sentiments of the people.
“The people of Sabah should think which is more important, the survival of Shafie or the survival of us, the rakyat,” stressed Annuar.
“I believe Shafie cannot deny this. If today Shafie talks about the importance of Sabah, he was already (Umno) vice president, what did he do?” he questioned.
Annuar said during his 20 years of being in the supreme council, Shafie never brought the subject of Sabah rights to the council.
“I can recall the things that Shafie brought forth in the supreme council. But I do not like to talk about personality. My style of politics, I don’t take it personal,” said Annuar.
“But I can for sure, tell you, during the series of supreme council meeting where policy matter is being discussed, Shafie never took the position like what he is trying to take now.
“So why (did) he waste his time for decades in the supreme council without defending the people of Sabah?
“To me, the real truth is that he has to fight for his political survival,” he revealed.
The Umno Information Chief reckoned that Warisan cannot win with the dispensable Shafie.
“One person cannot do anything, the important thing is the party,” said Annuar.
“It is important, the party. Barisan Nasional is a formula that has gone through fire, over a period of history. You may say bad things about Barisan Nasional but the reality is it has been there, supported by the people and rakyat of Malaysia for years.
“It is a combination of 13 different political parties. We maintain stability, we maintain the spirit of cooperation, we are not a perfect coalition but we are the best coalition,” he reminded, adding that other coalitions like Pakatan Rakyat had disbanded during efforts to topple Barisan Nasional.
Annuar expressed faith in the intelligence of the experienced Sabah people when it comes to the Warisan influence and threat to Barisan Nasional in Sabah.
He said Sabahans are familiar with the various political chess game that is played when it comes to the general election.
“Same as before, the Sabah people stood firmly with Barisan Nasional. The Sabah people themselves saw what they got, political stability from the unstable Sabah politics of the past, from a loose coalition to a solid coalition,” he said.
“The Sabah people are enjoying this. I believe the Sabah people will give a big mandate to Barisan Nasional.
“Not only in Kota Kinabalu but also in Tenom, Pulau Bum Bum, and other places outside of the city, the people of Sabah have high political awareness and that is good because they are not easily deceived.
“They know how to read politics. So I put high confidence on the intelligence of the Sabah people, who will choose the pure and true, not emotional or temporary, politics that is hatred, or politics that is trying to save the political career of an individual. What needs to be saved is the Sabah people and its land not the politics of individuals from Sabah,” he added.