Join Warisan govt – Shafie
KOTA BELUD: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said former Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders are welcome to unite under the Parti Warisan Sabah-led state government
Describing their decision to leave their respective parties as a good move, the Warisan president said: “As state leaders, if can, we should be united under the current Sabah government.
“We are aware that they have their own stand and honour, but what is important is for us to help each other in fulfilling the people’s hopes and making the agenda for their well-being a success.
“I welcome them (leaders) to make a good decision to be together under the current state government,” he said at the Kadamaian state constituency belated Christmas and New Year 2019 celebration held in Kampung Taginambur near here yesterday.
Shafie, however, said these former leaders should not set any conditions for joining Warisan.
“They also have their dignity but what’s important is that we help each other to achieve the agenda to develop Sabah. It’s not for Warisan, Upko, DAP or PKR, but for the people.
“So we invite them. I hope they will make a good decision based on the interests of the state and people,” he said.
Five Sabah Umno MPs and nine state assemblymen quit the party last December. The MPs are Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang), Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Zakaria Edris (Libaran) and Rahim Bakri (Kudat).
The assemblymen are Hajiji Mohd Noor (Sulaman), Masidi Manjun (Karanaan), Japlin Akim (Usukan), Musbah Jameh (Tempasuk), Gulam Haidar Khan (Kawang), Mohd Arifin Arif (Membakut), Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Matbali Musah (Lumadan) and Nizam Titingan (Apas).
None of them have applied to join Warisan yet.
Shafie also said the decision not to allow Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to spread its wings to the state was to enable the Sabah government to focus on administering the state well.
Shafie said the decision did not mean that Warisan was not giving Bersatu its cooperation.
He said Warisan had established cooperation with Bersatu since the 14th General Election last year and had from the beginning, stated its support for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.
“I had also experienced including serving for 30 years in several federal ministries during the previous government administration, so let me have the opportunity to administer Sabah which has been for seven months so far.
Shafie said cooperation with the federal government continued after Warisan led the new Sabah state government, while the federal government had been cooperating well with the state government including appointing a number of leaders from Sabah as federal ministers and deputy ministers.
Also present at the celebration were Deputy Chief Minister and Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and Kadamaian assemblyman and Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.